Stay Cool: Hottest Day Of The Week In Coachella Valley

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The hottest temperatures of the week are expected Wednesday throughout Riverside County, but relief will come this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

High pressure over Baja California will keep temperatures hot through Friday throughout the Inland Empire, then temperatures will drop gradually and return to around seasonal average on Sunday, forecasters said.

A heat advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. Friday in the Riverside metropolitan area and an excessive heat watch will also last until 9 p.m. Friday in the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.

High temperatures Wednesday are forecast to reach 109 in the Coachella Valley, 99 in the San Gorgonio Pass, 100 in Hemet, 97 in Riverside and Lake Elsinore, 95 in Temecula and 86 in Idyllwild.

The NWS urged residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Nighttime lows are expected to remain in the low- to mid-70s through Saturday in the Coachella Valley, meaning the minimal cooling at night could pose a health risk to those without access to air conditioning because the body needs time to cool down from the day's heat.

Also, young children 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.

The high temperatures typically trigger the opening of cooling centers, which include libraries and senior centers where people can escape the peak daytime heat, but Riverside County officials were not prepared to coordinate the openings at this point due to the coronavirus outbreak.

"We are working with the Office on Aging to connect seniors with services during this heat wave," county Director of Public Health Kim Saruwatari said Monday. "Community Connect is a one-stop shop. By dialing 211 from any phone in Riverside County, seniors can be connected with a number of services that are available."