Coachella Valley temperatures will dip below triple digits Saturday, and continue dropping through early next week.
High pressure that has kept temperatures scorching all week will weaken substantially throughout the weekend, dropping highs in the Coachella Valley to the mid-90s by Monday and highs in the Riverside metropolitan area to the low 80s, according to the National Weather Service.
The NWS urged residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors. 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 NWS.
Nighttime lows are expected to remain in the low- to mid-70s through Saturday evening 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.
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.