Stanford students are flocking to the fountains to escape record-high temperatures that have sent a heat wave across the Bay Area.

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Mehmet Inonu

Students waded through the Claw fountain in White Plaza to beat the heat wave passing through the Bay Area. Temperatures peaked at 97 degrees on Thursday, and the National Weather Service issued a second “Excessive Heat Warning” for Friday afternoon, forecasting temperatures up to 98 degrees.

The National Weather Service has issued a second “Excessive Heat Warning” for the Bay Area for Friday afternoon, forecasting temperatures up to 98 degrees.

“It is not uncommon for the Bay Area to experience temperatures nearing 100 degrees during the latter part of the summer, but it is very uncommon this early in the season,” said Associate Vice Provost for Environmental Health and Safety Lawrence Gibbs in an email to The Daily.

Before Thursday’s peak at over 97 degrees, the record campus temperature for May 15 was 91 degrees in 1976. If temperatures today reach the forecast high, they will surpass the current May 16 record high of 97 degrees, set in 1970.

Despite the high temperatures and dry conditions, the University reports little concern over the potential for fires in the Stanford foothills. According to Gibbs, the University this year widened the fire break along the foothills perimeter to 30 feet. He noted that last summer’s fire near the Dish may have lessened the threat of fires this year.

“Due to the fire last summer, there may actually be less fuel available for fire in the same areas,” he said.

In addition, the University recently installed additional fire hydrants in order to augment the fire department’s ability to suppress brush fires.

Fire isn’t the only danger in light of rising temperatures. All week, students have been sunning themselves and wading in campus fountains in large numbers. But despite this increased student sun exposure, the University reports no incidences of heat-related illness.

Other students have been stuck inside this week. Annie Jonas ‘08 has spent the past ten days and nights locked in her residence’s computer cluster, hard at work on an honors thesis on propaganda in Maoist China.

“I have been hot,” Jonas said.

To cool down, “I stand closer to the door,” she explained, noting with dismay that her efforts “have not been successful.” Last night she abandoned hope, escaping to Panera Bread in Cupertino, an air-conditioned haven.

Maura Burk ‘08, also in the throes of indoor thesis completion, agrees with Jonas’ climactic assessments.

“I was actually shocked,” she said of a foray outdoors yesterday. “I walked to Advanced Wine Tasting today . . . and it was hot.”

The National Weather Service projects the heat to break by the end of this weekend, with high temperatures forecast to return to the low 80s by Monday.

— Theo Milonopoulos contributed to this report.