Fire Weather Watch Issued For Riverside County, Santa Ana Winds

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The mercury will soar into the triple digits again Thursday in many parts of Riverside County, but cooler weather is on its way this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

High pressure centered off the West Coast will move farther off the coast and high pressure over southern California will slowly weaken, causing temperatures to start dropping on Saturday, forecasters said.

Santa Ana winds are expected to develop Thursday evening and sweep through Riverside County until Friday evening, elevating the risk of wildfires, forecasters said.

Winds out of the north and northeast are expected to be between 15-25 mph Thursday, with gusts potentially reaching 45 mph Thursday evening below the Cajon Pass, according to the NWS.

Humidity will also drop to between 5-8 percent, leaving fuels critically dry.

The NWS issued a fire weather watch that will be in effect in the Riverside metropolitan area through 6 p.m. Friday.

A heat advisory is also in effect until 5 p.m. Friday in much of Riverside County.

Residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air- conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors, according to the NWS. The agency also stresses that children, seniors and pets must never be left in a vehicle parked in hot weather, even with windows open, as interior temperatures can rapidly turn lethal.

High temperatures Thursday are forecast to reach 107 in the Coachella Valley, 98 in the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, 101 in Hemet and Riverside, 100 in Lake Elsinore, 99 in Temecula and 83 in Idyllwild.

Highs could reach 104 in much of the Riverside metropolitan area on Friday, then drop to 102 on Saturday, forecasters said. The mercury in the Coachella Valley is expected to reach 106 on Friday before falling to 103 on Saturday.

Riverside County has 35 cooling centers available countywide with mandatory mask wearing and social distancing protocols in place.

A full list of the cooling center locations can be found here.