Eureka broke a heat record on Friday.
"We actually broke the record (Friday) for the high temperature in Eureka, which we hit 75 and the record was 70," said James White, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Eureka. "I mean, it's pretty lame compared to the rest of the county but we certainly broke (records in) Eureka."
Other places in the county, he said, were in the top 5 for records including spots in Willow Creek, Hoopa and Garberville.
White said Eel River Camp — the closest station to Garberville — hit 111 degrees Friday.
"(Eel River Camp's) all-time record was a 115," White said. "But 111 was certainly one of the hottest temperatures I've ever seen there. It's in the top five."
The Willow Creek and Hoopa area also had one of those "top fives." Hoopa hit 109 Friday and its record temperature is 111.
White said temperatures will remain "solidly above normal" for the next week and Saturday could see new records set.
"(Saturday) is actually likely going to be the hottest day for those places," he said. "So if any of those old-time records are going to be shattered it would probably be today. In fact, I'd say it's pretty darn likely especially for the for the Trinity River area."
While the Trinity River area remains very hot, the Trinity River itself remains very dangerous for those looking to cool off. Two people lost their lives this year in the Trinity River after being swept away by strong, cold currents.
"It's really never a safe time, unfortunately, especially for the Trinity (River)," White said Saturday morning. "You know the thing with the Trinity River is the water gets released from the bottom of the dam throughout the summer so the water coming out of it … is still darn cold. It's not as cold as it would have been back in May or even June, but it's still dangerously cold and fast where folks could easily get caught off guard."
He urged people to stay in shallow, calm waters in the Trinity River.
White also reminded people that there are more fire fuels in summer and to be cautious.
"Even here at the coast, the grasses are really starting to dry," he said. "There was actually a fire in the median of (Highway) 101 in Arcata a couple of days ago, so even here, it's starting to get there."
Ruth Schneider can be reached at 707-441-0520.
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