Extreme Heat On The Way To Murrieta: Forecast

MURRIETA, CA — Gusty winds were expected in parts of Riverside County Friday amid low temperatures and a slight chance of rain, but high heat and critical fire danger will follow at the weekend and early next week, forecasters said. In Murrieta, temperatures are forecast to get up to 102 degrees next week.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory Friday for Riverside County mountains and the San Gorgonio Pass, with gusts up to 60 mph possible.

"Strongest winds will be along the ridges and upper desert mountain slopes, as well as below the passes, where gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely," the NWS said. "A wind advisory will be in effect for the mountains and deserts, excluding the Coachella Valley, from 5 a.m. through 9 p.m."

High temperatures Friday will be 68 to 75 in Riverside and the Inland Empire, 59 to 69 in the mountains, 78 to 83 near the San Gorgonio Pass and 83 to 88 in the Coachella Valley. The NWS said there is a roughly 20 percent chance of rain in the mountains and west of the mountains Friday.

---

As for Murrieta in particular, here is the National Weather Service forecast for the coming days:

Today
A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 95. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Sunday Night
Clear, with a low around 57.

Monday
Sunny, with a high near 102.

Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 60.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 102.

Tuesday Night
Clear, with a low around 58.

"A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect from Saturday for the San Bernardino mountains, Inland Empire and Santa Ana mountains, then starting Sunday for the rest of Orange County, the valleys and mountains of San Diego County and the mountains of Riverside County, with all areas continuing through Tuesday," the weather service said.

The Coachella Valley will likely see some of the hottest temperatures over the next few days but will be spared the strongest winds Friday -- the forecast calls for 15 to 25 mph winds with gust to 35 mph -- and the Santa Ana winds and fire threat next week. High temperatures in the Coachella Valley are expected to be 83 to 88 Friday, 88 on Saturday, 92 to 97 on Sunday, 97 to 102 on Monday, 99 to 104 on Tuesday and 96 to 101 on Wednesday.

In Riverside, Lake Elsinore and the rest of the Inland Empire, temperatures are expected to rise 30 to 40 degrees above Friday's mild weather, with high temperatures expected to be 81 to 86 on Saturday, 91 to 96 on Sunday, 99 to 103 on Monday, 99 to 104 on Tuesday and 94 to 99 on Wednesday.

Cooler temperatures are in the forecast for the Riverside County mountain areas, with expected highs of 67 to 73 on Saturday, 75 to 82 on Sunday, 80 to 87 on Monday and 81 to 88 on Tuesday.

Near the San Gorgonio Pass, including in Banning and Desert Hot Springs, high temperatures are forecast at 82 to 87 on Saturday, 90 to 95 on Sunday, 95 to 100 on Monday, 96 to 101 on Tuesday and 93 to 98 on Wednesday.

— City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Pixabay