Flex Alert in effect due to heat wave

The State of California has issued a Flex Alert through Sunday for all California residents. This means that residents are urged to keep their home thermostats at 78 degrees when home and 80 degrees when away and not use any major appliances until after 6 pm. Otherwise, brownouts could occur. That would not be good, especially during the middle of the day when temperatures are above 100 degrees. The heat wave continues today- day three of triple digit temperatures. Yesterday's high in Chico was 103, and it looks like we could match or exceed that today in much of the Sacramento Valley. Even the Sierra Nevada mountains will see highs in the 90s today! Speaking of the mountains, the Chips fire has grown to nearly 20,000 acres and is only 10 percent contained. Every morning for the past week, I have been greeted with the smell of smoke when stepping outside. I should get used to it; the fire is not expected to be fully contained until August 31st. Summer in Northern California- gotta love it! Here is Chico's seven day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Light and variable wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the morning. Tonight Clear, with a low around 67. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 103. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Saturday Night Clear, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 8 mph. Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 103. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Tuesday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Wednesday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Thursday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.