Bay Area heat spell puts El Niño rains on hold

A second day of near-record breaking temperatures was in store for the Bay Area Monday as a stubborn ridge of high pressure brought a warm forecast to the region more typical of fall than February.

Temperatures elsewhere were expected to come within a few degrees of the highest recorded temps for this date with San Francisco predicted to top out around 72, two degrees shy of the record.

On Sunday, a weather station about five miles south of Mineta San Jose International Airport recorded a high of 76 degrees, tying the record for the date set in 1963.

In an act of unfortunate timing, strong rip currents were forecast for the waters off Northern California just as the siren song of high heat beckoned people to area beaches, Anderson said.

A Coastal Hazard Statement was issued by the weather service warning people to be aware of sneaker waves and rip tides from the northern tip of Sonoma County south to Monterey Bay.