Heat Advisory Remains In Effect Through Western Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Gusty winds have weakened, but a dry heat wave will continue throughout Riverside County Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The Santa Ana winds that brought a critical wildfire risk in most of the Inland Empire on Monday and Tuesday have lessened, but humidity remains low and sweltering heat is expected to last through Friday, forecasters said.

A heat advisory will remain in effect through 8 p.m. Friday in the Riverside metropolitan area, including Southwest Riverside County and the San Gorgonio Pass Area west of Banning.

Temperatures are expected to peak Wednesday and 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, senior 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 Wednesday are forecast to reach 108 in the Coachella Valley, 102 in the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, 103 in Hemet, 106 in Riverside, 101 in Lake Elsinore, 100 in Temecula and 85 in Idyllwild.

Highs could reach 106 in much of the Riverside metropolitan area on Thursday, then drop to 105 on Friday, forecasters said. The mercury in the Coachella Valley is expected to top out at 112 on Thursday before dropping to 108 on Friday.

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 at: https://www.capriverside.org/Cool-Centers.