Another Heat Wave On Tap For Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Another heat wave is expected to grip the Inland Empire this week, but it will not be nearly as hot or last as long as the record-breaking heat wave last week, according to the National Weather Service.

High pressure will remain over the southwestern United States before moving southward into Mexico starting on Friday, forecasters said. This will keep temperatures hot in most areas through Thursday, then highs will gradually fall over the weekend.

The weather service issued an excessive heat warning from 10 a.m. Tuesday through 8 p.m. Thursday in the Coachella Valley and a heat advisory from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Friday in the Riverside metropolitan area, Southwest Riverside County, and the San Gorgonio Pass Area.

High temperatures Tuesday are forecast to reach 117 in the Coachella Valley, 103 in the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, 102 in Hemet, 100 in Riverside, 99 in Lake Elsinore, 96 in Temecula and 88 in Idyllwild.

Highs in some metropolitan communities around Riverside could reach 104 on Wednesday and 105 on Thursday, while the mercury in the Coachella Valley is expected to climb to 117 again on Wednesday, then drop to 113 on Thursday, forecasters said.

The NWS urged residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and check on relatives and neighbors. Also, young children, seniors and pets should be never be left unattended in a vehicle, with car interiors able to "reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes," according to the NWS.

Riverside County has 14 cooling centers available countywide with mandatory mask wearing and social distancing protocols in place. Among the 14 locations, five are in the Coachella Valley, two in the Banning Pass, one in Moreno Valley, one in Temecula and five in Riverside.

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