Sweltering Heat Not Letting Up Anytime Soon

Already sweltering temperatures across much of Riverside County, including the Coachella Valley, are expected to push a few degrees upward Thursday.

High pressure aloft will keep inland areas hot through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Highs of 101 to 107 degrees are forecast Thursday for the valleys around Riverside, as are highs of 91 to 97 degrees in the mountains, 105 to 110 along the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and 106 to 111 degrees in the Coachella Valley.

The heat wave is expected to peak Friday, with forecasted highs of 101 to 106 degrees in the valleys, 92 to 98 degrees in the mountains, 107 to 112 along the San Gorgonio Pass and 108 to 113 degrees in the Coachella Valley.

A low pressure trough moving toward the West Coast was expected to usher in cooler conditions over the weekend and into next week, with temperatures at or below than seasonal averages, forecasters said.

The NWS forecast sunny skies Thursday and highs of 111 in Palm Springs; 110 in Blythe; 109 in Thermal; 107 in Indio and Desert Hot Springs; 103 in Riverside and Hemet; 102 in Lake Elsinore and Moreno Valley; 100 in Corona; 99 in Temecula; 87 in Idyllwild; and 74 on Mount San Jacinto. Friday’s temperatures will be the same as Thursday’s or marginally lower.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock