PALM DESERT CA — Baking hot temperatures are forecast to grip Palm Desert and Inland Empire residents for the remainder of the week through the end of July.
That intensifying heat prompted the National Weather Service on Wednesday to revise heat warnings and remind residents to take precautions while outdoors.
The agency said that triple-digit daytime heat will be the norm throughout the region for at least the next several days.
Heat Advisories previously issued for the Riverside metropolitan area and the Anza and San Jacinto valleys were changed to an Extreme Heat Warning, which will remain in effect until 8 p.m. Monday.
The prior Extreme Heat Warning posted for the Coachella Valley has not changed and is also in effect until Monday evening.
"High temperatures on Thursday and Friday will be around 10 degrees above average for inland areas, with highs ranging from the upper 90s to 110 for the Inland Empire, with 112 to 118 for the lower deserts," the NWS said in a statement. "Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms and stay out of the sun."
Ridges of high pressure settling to the north and east will influence weather patterns into early next week, ratcheting up dry conditions. However, fetches of moisture may also drag into the region due to monsoonal activity in Baja Mexico, generating instability and isolated thunderstorms in and around mountainous areas of the San Gorgonio Pass and lower Coachella Valley, according to prognostication charts.
Will There Be Monsoons?
The only strong chance for precipitation is Friday, forecasters said. The Weather Service said the high heat will more than probably return next week. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration recently declared that an El Niño has developed in the Pacific, and it's intensifying, raising sea temperatures well above average. It has been attributed to the birth of Hurricane Fausto, currently tracking toward Hawaii as a Category 2 cyclone.
For Palm Springs, Indio, Rancho Mirage and adjacent spots, daytime highs will climb to at or above 115 for the remainder of the week. Lows will be in the low 90s until Sunday, the NWS said.
In the Riverside metropolitan area, temps will be in the low 100s until next Monday. Lows will generally settle in the low to mid 70s now through the weekend.
In the Temecula Valley, highs will rise into the upper 90s over the next few days, with a heat index due to increased humidity making it feel like the low 100s, according to the NWS. Lows will fall into the upper 60s each night, forecasters said.
Palm Desert has three designated options, including two open to the general public.
Palm Desert Community Center
The Desert Recreation District describes its cooling centers as safe, accessible and welcoming places where residents can escape dangerous temperatures. The district confirmed its 2026 cooling-center schedule in June.
Palm Desert Library
The library is included in the county Cool Center directory and offers the broadest weekend availability among Palm Desert's designated locations.
Joslyn Center — ages 55 and older
Other option: The Shops at Palm Desert, 72840 Highway 111, is not a designated Cool Center but offers an air-conditioned indoor space. Regular shopping hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Doors open at 10 a.m. for mall walkers. Check current mall hours here.
Cool Centers are generally drop-in locations where people can spend time in an air-conditioned setting during dangerous heat. Seating, water, snacks, activities, charging outlets and pet accommodations vary by site.
Visitors may want to bring:
Call before bringing a pet as only some centers may accept animals.
Heat exhaustion symptoms can include heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, thirst and an elevated body temperature, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Confusion, loss of coordination, seizures, unconsciousness or a very high body temperature may indicate heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. Call 911 and begin cooling the person immediately.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Palm Desert Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.