Valley Could See Triple-Digit Temps First Time This Year

PALM SPRINGS, CA — Temperatures Tuesday in the Coachella Valley could hit triple digits for the first time this year, though the heat will subside later this week when a fast-moving low-pressure system sweeps across Riverside County, bringing with it powerful winds with gusts of up to 75 miles per hour, the National Weather Service said.

High temperatures Tuesday in the Coachella Valley could reach 101 degrees, a day after Riverside matched its record high and Idyllwild set a new heat record an April 9. Riverside hit 96 degrees Monday to match the previous high set in 1904, while Idyllwild was 79, two degrees more than the previous high set in 2014.

A high-pressure system is causing the heat and is expected to be accompanied by gusty winds and clear, sunny skies Tuesday, forecasters said. Highs Tuesday will be 88 to 93 in the Riverside metropolitan area, 78 to 85 in the mountains, 94 to 99 near the San Gorgonio Pass and 96 to 101 in the Coachella Valley.

But beginning Wednesday evening, a quick-moving low-pressure system will sweep into Southern California, bringing with it cooler weather and strong, gusty west winds in the mountains and deserts, with a slight chance of light showers along and west of the mountains, meteorologists said. The strongest winds are expected late Wednesday into early Thursday.

The NWS issued a high wind watch that will go into effect Wednesday afternoon and last until Thursday evening. The high wind watch signifies there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event with sustained winds of at least 40 mph and gusts up to 58 mph or stronger. It covers the mountains, the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and most of the Coachella Valley, including Indio, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Palm Desert Country, La Quinta, Coachella and Desert Hot Springs.

The strongest winds will likely occur near mountain ridge tops and along desert mountain slopes into adjacent desert areas, with sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, typical gusts up to 60 mph and isolated gusts up to 75 mph.

"The winds will make driving difficult, especially for motorists with high profile vehicles," the NWS meteorologists said. "This will impact portions of Interstate 10 through the San Gorgonio Pass and the Coachella Valley ... In the deserts, areas of blowing dust and sand will reduce visibility at times. Watch for broken tree limbs and other debris."

For the extreme eastern portion of Riverside County, there will also be a fire weather watch from Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening.

Fair weather with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 80s are expected for Friday, the first day of the 2018 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio. High temperatures in the Coachella Valley for the festival are expected to be 81 to 86 on Friday, 89 on Saturday and 89 to 94 on Sunday.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock