Temperature records for May 6 were set in Idyllwild and tied in Palm Springs Wednesday during what is expected to be the hottest day of the week before relief arrives this weekend.

The 86-degree high in Idyllwild broke the previous record for this date of 82 set in 2018, according to James Brotherton, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Records date back to 1943.

The temperature reached 108 in Palm Springs, tying the record set in 1963. Records date back to 1893.

The average high for Palm Springs on May 6 in 91, Brotherton said.

Other high temperatures in Riverside County included 99 in San Jacinto, 98 in Riverside and Lake Elsinore, according to the weather service.

High pressure over Baja California will continue to keep temperatures hot through Friday throughout the Inland Empire, then temperatures will drop gradually and return to around seasonal average on Sunday, forecasters said.

Thursday temperatures countywide are expected to drop slightly, yet remain scorching until the weekend when a cooling trend is expected to begin.

A heat advisory will be in effect until 9 p.m. Friday in the Riverside metropolitan area and an excessive heat watch will also last until 9 p.m. Friday in the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.

The weather service urged the public to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Nighttime lows are expected to remain in the low- to mid-70s through Saturday in the Coachella Valley, meaning the minimal cooling at night could pose a health risk to those without access to air conditioning because the body needs time to cool down from the day’s heat.

Also, young children and pets should be never be left unattended in a vehicle, with car interiors able to “reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes,” according to the weather service.

The high temperatures typically trigger the opening of cooling centers, which include libraries and senior centers where people can escape the peak daytime heat. However, they were not able to be opened because of various restrictions related to the coronavirus outbreak.

Riverside County Director of Public Health Kim Saruwatari advised senior citizens to dial 211 to be informed of services available.

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