Stay Cool, Murrieta! It's Going To Be HOT

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- The first major heat wave of the season is will engulf Riverside County deserts, the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley this weekend, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an excessive heat
watch.

A strengthening high pressure system was expected to send desert temperatures soaring 10 to 20 degrees above normal, creating a warming trend through Saturday, according to the NWS.

The excessive heat watch was expected to be in effect from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening with some areas of the region potentially reaching a high of 110 degrees. The Coachella Valley was expected to top out at 115 degrees, with the High Desert expected to reach 108.

A dry low pressure system should improve conditions early next week, forecasters said. Until then, they urged residents to stay hydrated, schedule outdoor work during the coolest part of the day, and never leave children, the
elderly or pets in unattended vehicles.

A gradual cooldown was expected to begin Sunday.

Click here for Murrieta forecast.

--City News Service