Dangerous High Heat Returning To Riverside County This Weekend: NWS

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA ? July's reprieve this week from torrid hot weather will be short-lived.

On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued an excessive heat watch for much of Riverside County that begins at 11 a.m. Friday.

"A gradual warming trend is expected into Saturday, leading to temperatures well above average this weekend. That will mean moderate to major heat risk for the valleys and major to extreme heat risk for the deserts," the NWS reported. "There are slight chances of showers and thunderstorms each afternoon in the mountains into early next week."

According to the NWS, the excessive heat watch will remain in place in the desert and parts of the Pass Area until at least 9 p.m. Sunday.

"There will be dangerously hot conditions, with temperatures up to 117 degrees possible," the NWS stated. "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room and stay out of the sun."

Even areas not under the excessive heat watch, like Southwest Riverside County and the Riverside metro area, will still see temperatures approach or exceed 100 degrees this weekend.

The NWS modeling is not definitive for next week, but the agency said, "The strong upper high over the Great Basin will not budge. No matter how many features may dampen or weaken it temporarily (looking at you, Northwest trough), it is resilient, so keep planning for hotter-than-normal summer weather inland next week."