Heat Wave Hits Region: County Warns To 'Take Seriously'

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Temperatures were expected to soar into the triple digits Friday throughout Riverside County, a heat advisory is in place over the weekend, and residents were advised to take precautions to prevent heat stroke and other problems.

"Take this heat seriously, even if you're healthy and feel you are acclimated to high temperatures," county Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said. "Temperatures like those predicted can lead to life-threatening issues. Just a few precautions can help you stay safe."

According to the National Weather Service, a stationary ridge of high pressure will dominate Southern California, pushing the mercury above 100 degrees in the Riverside metropolitan area, with the thermometer climbing toward 120 in the eastern Coachella Valley.

The NWS issued a heat advisory through 8 p.m. Monday, noting that "periods of hot temperatures ... will create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible."

"Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," according to an agency statement.

Dr. Kaiser advised county residents to also wear loose and light-colored clothes and to take cool shores.

"Avoid drinking alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar," a county statement suggested.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District is also warning the heat wave will increase the likelihood of unhealthy to very unhealthy air across Riverside County, including the San Gorgonio Pass.
"Elevated temperatures, which enhance ozone formation rates, coupled with predicted atmospheric inversions that trap pollution near the surface may cause unusually high and persistent levels of ozone pollution," the South Coast AQMD said, adding that:

"When air quality is 'unhealthy' and reaches an air quality index (AQI) range of 151 to 200, everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and residents with higher sensitivity to air pollution may experience more serious effects. When air quality is 'very unhealthy' with an AQI range of 201 to 300, everyone in the region may experience more serious health effects."

Cooling centers will be open daily during the heat wave, providing county residents who do not live in climate-controlled environments a free cool space to relax until the evening hours.

A complete list of cooling centers is available on the county's website.