Temperatures are expected to top 110 degrees throughout the week in the hottest desert areas of Riverside County, forecasters said Monday.
Monday’s high for the Labor Day holiday in Palm Springs was 110 degrees, and forecasters predicted that would climb to 113 on Wednesday and 116 on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Coachella was at 109 on Monday, with a forecast of 112 on Wednesday and 115 on Thursday.
The mercury in downtown Riverside reached 100 degrees Monday, and was expected to gradually climb over the following days, peaking at 107 degrees Thursday and 106 on Friday.
A similar pattern was expected in Hemet.
Overnight lows will also be at uncomfortably high levels, remaining in the mid-to-upper 80s in the hottest areas.
An excessive heat watch will be in effect from Wednesday morning through Friday evening throughout the Riverside County valleys.
“All inland areas will be heating up,” the NWS posted on X. “We’ve been hinting at some hot weather expected later this week. Our confidence is increasing in seeing highs near 10 to locally 15 degrees above average. The time is now to prepare for the incoming hot weather!”
The hot, dry weather will also create elevated fire conditions across the mountains, valleys and deserts this week.
An air quality alert was in effect until at least 2 p.m. Monday for the cities of Riverside, Palm Springs, Corona, Moreno Valley, Fontana, Indio, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Idlyllwild-Pine Cove and Coachella Valley. The alert was issued for increased fine particle pollution from a wildfire in San Jacinto, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.