Lake Elsinore's Sweltering Temps: Records In From National Weather Service

Lake Elsinore, CA– Summer is officially here. And its making itself known.

It doesn't take a scientist to tell anyone who was in Lake Elsinore on Monday to know that it was a HOT one. But if you're curious as to just how hot the mercury registered with the National Weather Service, read on.

Across the Inland Empire, many areas saw record-breaking temperatures on Monday– the first official day of summer. Out in Palm Springs and Indio, two 87-year-old records were smashed as temperatures soared past 120 degrees, according to the NWS.

A similar trend was felt throughout the region. Here's a roundup of the local maximum temperature records set or tied on June 20:

• Riverside: 114 (old record was 110 in 2008)
• Palm Springs: 122 (old record was 118 in 1929)
• Thermal: 121 (old record was 118 in 2008)
• Idyllwild: 97 (old record was 95 in 2001)
• Indio: 120 (old record was 116 in 1929)

Though a record may not have been set in Lake Elsinore, it did reach 115 degrees, according to weather service data.

Here are some other hot temperatures recorded by the agency:

• San Bernardino: 110
• Corona: 109
• Beaumont: 108
• Lake Elsinore: 115
• Hemet: 111
• Temecula: 110
• Joshua Tree: 115
• Blythe: 124

Out in La Quinta, a photo captured by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services showed an electronic sign registering 128 degrees at 2:18 p.m. However, weather service officials caution those signs can vary by several degrees.

A NWS excessive heat warning for the mountains, the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass is set to remain in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

In the forecast for Tuesday-- the second day of summer -- were slightly lower highs of 95 to 101 degrees in the valleys around Riverside, 94 to 103 degrees in the mountains, 108 to 113 degrees along the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and 110 to 115 degrees in the Coachella Valley.

"High pressure aloft over the southwest will continue very hot days over the mountains and deserts," according to the weather service. "A coastal eddy and building marine layer will bring cooling west of the mountains, while increasing high clouds help to dim the sun at times."

Temperatures are expected to continue falling. Forecasters said the high temperature range Wednesday would be 108 to 116 degrees in the lower deserts, 99 to 107 degrees in the upper deserts, in the 90s in mountain areas lower then 6,000 feet, and in the 80s in higher mountain areas.

Forecasters advised the public to avoid potentially serious heat-related ailments by staying well-hydrated, avoiding unnecessary outdoor labor and checking on neighbors and relatives -- especially those with health conditions and who lack air conditioning.

Authorities also warned against leaving children or pets in parked cars, which can quickly become death traps in high heat.

The heat wave is expected to break later this week, but forecasters said it could still remain hot in the deserts and mountains.

(City News Service contributed to this report)