The Scorching Continues: Record High Temperatures Across Bay Area

First: If you want to see some real heat this week, head for Death Valley. The National Weather Service forecast for the really hot parts of the hottest place in North America is for a high of 127 this week, with lows in the low to middle 90s. That's before temperatures moderate later in the week (Sunday's forecast high: 121).

Second: If you live on the coast or on select spots near the bay -- San Francisco or Berkeley -- don't whine so much about how hot it is. Yes -- the weather has broken some records and can be dangerous if you're not careful. But it's your inland neighbors and those not favored by a nice sea breeze who are really suffering through the blast-furnace intensity of our current prolonged heat wave.

Here's a quick look at the 10 Bay Area locations where high-temperature records were set or tied Sunday:

So far Monday, temperatures are much cooler in areas near the coast and near the central and northern parts of the bay than they were yesterday. For instance, San Rafael, which hit 105 on Sunday -- was in the low 90s. Berkeley, which hit unofficially broke a 122-year-old record when it hit 91 on Sunday -- was enjoying temperatures in the low 70s. For low, low temperatures, temperatures have remained in the high 50s.

But across the East Bay hills and in much of the South Bay and North Bay, conditions remain scorching. Livermore, which hit a record 106 degrees on Sunday, was unofficially 105 at 2:30 p.m. (the record for June 19: 109, set in 1981). Many other recording sites in Marin, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda and Santa Clara counties reported temperatures ranging from the mid-90s to low 100s.

And of course, the most extreme conditions are further afield. Much of the Central Valley, from Redding in the north to Bakersfield in the south, are suffering through temperatures of 105 and up, with no prospect of more moderate weather until the weekend.

Redding, at the top of the Sacramento Valley, hit 110 on Sunday, smashing the June 18 record of 102, set in 1988. Nearby, Red Bluff hit 111, another record. All-time highs were also set in Sacramento, Stockton and Fresno.

Redding and Stockton set records again Monday. Temperatures reached 111 degrees at Redding's airport, eclipsing the record of 104, set in 1981. The reported high at Stockton's airport was 109. The previous record, 108, was also set in 1981.

The extreme conditions have prompted the National Weather Service to issue an excessive heat warning for the entire 500-mile length of the Central Valley through Thursday night. In the Bay Area, a heat advisory is in effect during the same period.