Slight Cooldown Coming To Palm Desert: How Long Will It Last?

PALM DESERT, CA —After record high temperatures were recorded in the Inland Empire this week, the heatwave was predicted to break, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures across the board were expected to drop by at least 10 degrees in some areas, bringing welcome relief to mountain communities where many residents do not have air conditioning.

Idyllwild saw record-high temperatures Wednesday, 93 degrees, tying its record high for the day set in 1955, according to the National Weather Service. Borrego also had a record-high low temperature for the day, only cooling down to 86 degrees overnight. The last time Borrego saw that high of a minimum temperature was 2021.

A welcome cool-down across the Inland Empire was expected to bring some relief starting Thursday, the NWS said. The Excessive Heat Warning ended Wednesday at 8 p.m. for the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, where the mercury ranged from 112 to 118 degrees that day. Riverside County valleys saw temperatures of up to 108 that day, according to the NWS.

On Thursday, Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley was expected to drop to the low 100s by the weekend and remain in the high 90s through the low 100s through next Wednesday, according to the NWS.

In the Pass Area, temperatures would fall to 97 on Thursday, dropping into the high 80s through the weekend and climbing slightly to the low 90s by mid-next week.

Across Temecula Valley, the cities of Temecula, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore's temperatures were expected to drop to the low 90s before dropping to the mid-80s by the weekend and through next week. Low temperatures would fall to the low 60s and high 50s overnight, NWS forecasters predict.

According to the National Weather Service, Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley would see much-reduced temperatures through the weekend.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 108. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Thursday night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 81. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 100. Breezy, with an east wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest 15 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. West wind 10 to 15 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 75.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 98.

Sunday Night
Clear, with a low around 70.

Labor Day
Sunny, with a high near 98.

Monday Night
Clear, with a low around 74.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 101.

Tuesday Night
Clear, with a low around 75.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 101.