As the nearly two-week-long heat wave draws to a close, high winds and possible flash flooding are in the forecast going into the weekend as a weakening hurricane approaches the California coast, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency posted a flash flood watch for Riverside County mountains, the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass, beginning Friday afternoon and continuing to Saturday evening.
Additionally, a high wind watch for the entire Inland Empire is in effect from 6 a.m. Friday to 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
The Weather Service said that as Hurricane Kay rolls to within 150 miles of San Diego on Friday, it will weaken to a tropical depression, but the cyclonic activity will generate instability throughout the region.
“The impacts here will include strong east winds, which will be enhanced by the mountains,” the NWS said. “Wind gusts over 70 mph (are) likely in parts of San Diego County, especially the mountains Friday, and across … Riverside and possibly Orange County Saturday.”
Forecasters warned that thunderstorms are possible, and rainfall could be in the “2-4 inch range from the mountains east into the deserts.”
“Heavy rain is most likely late Friday night through Saturday, but lingering moisture, especially if Kay remains nearby, could bring more rain Sunday,” the NWS stated.
An excessive heat warning remains active until 8 p.m. Friday.
The California Independent System Operator extended a Flex Alert for the eighth consecutive day Wednesday, urging residents to take the following power-saving steps:
— setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher;
— avoiding use of major appliances;
— turning off unnecessary lights; and
— avoid charging electric vehicles.
Residents were also advised to pre-cool their homes as much as possible and close blinds and drapes to keep interiors cool.
The voluntary conservation measures have worked so far, as the power stayed on Tuesday despite a record demand for electricity. Just before 6 p.m. Tuesday, the state moved into an Energy Emergency Alert 3, calling for maximum conservation efforts while warning that blackouts could be imminent absent reduced demand.
If energy reserves are exhausted, the ISO may instruct utilities to manage rolling blackouts. Utilities make the determination of how best to spread and rotate the outages across their service territory, with the goal of keeping them as short as possible.
By late Tuesday afternoon, electricity demand reached 52,061 megawatts, breaking the record of 50,270 MW set in 2006, according to the ISO. Wednesday’s load is forecast at 49,868 MW.
Consumer and commercial demand response, including Flex Alerts, have been helping to extend tight resources over the past week, with a load reduction of around 1,000 MW for each of the past several days.
Daytime triple-digit temps have been the norm in Riverside County since Aug. 30.
Record high temperatures were recorded in Ramona and Idyllwild on Wednesday. It was 107 in Ramona, breaking a record of 101 set in 2011. It was 97 in Idyllwild, breaking a record of 95 set in 1955.
Record minimum temperatures were recorded throughout Riverside County on Wednesday night. A record low of 75 in Riverside tied a mark set in 2013. A low of 73 in Lake Elsinore broke the record of 72 set in 2013. A low of 76 in San Jacinto broke the record of 72 set in 2020. A low of 63 in Idyllwild tied a record set in 2020. A low of 87 in Palm Springs tied a record set in 1952. A low of 88 in Indio broke a record of 87 set in 2019.
Cooling centers for Riverside County can be found at www.capriverside.org/cool-centers.