Sweltering heat continued to bare down on Riverside County Wednesday, with temperatures exceeding seasonal averages countywide, but no daily records were set, the National Weather Service reported.
The mercury across the county generally was between 10 and 15 degrees above seasonal averages for May 27, according to Brandt Maxwell, an NWS meteorologist.
Palm Springs heated up to 110, which is well above the 97-degree average for May 27. The coldest day on record for May 27 in Palm Springs is 75 degrees in 1962, Maxwell said. Records go back to 1931 in the city.
In Idyllwild, Wednesday’s high of 89 was 17 degrees warmer than the average of 72 degrees for May 27.
West of the mountains, temperatures remained in the mid-90s with the Riverside Airport hitting 96, and Temecula 94.
High pressure will continue to linger over Southern California through Thursday, resulting in sweltering conditions in the deserts and other inland areas, according to the NWS.
An excessive heat warning is in effect through 7 p.m. Friday in the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.
Highs will drop to around 111 in the Coachella Valley on Thursday, while the mercury in the Riverside metropolitan area will top out in the high-90s, forecasters said.
Greater cooling will arrive on Friday in the Riverside metropolitan area, but the Coachella Valley won’t get relief until Saturday.
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 Friday 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.
Senior citizens can dial 211 to be informed of services available.