Another day of triple-digit temperatures took over most parts of Riverside County Sunday as a National Weather Service heat advisory remained in effect.
The advisory will continue until at least 8 p.m. Sunday in the areas of downtown Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Hemet and Temecula Valley. In the Coachella Valley, an excessive heat warning will remain in effect until at least 8 p.m. Thursday due to temperatures expected to range from 110 to 114 degrees in the areas of Cathedral City, Palm Desert Country, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Coachella.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an air quality alert that will be in effect through 7 p.m. Tuesday throughout all of Riverside County due to high levels of smog.
A windblown dust advisory was also issued by the SCAQMD from 2 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Wednesday due to air quality index expected to reach unhealthy or higher values in the areas of Indio, Palm Springs, Mecca, Cathedral City and the San Gorgonio Pass.
Highs in the Riverside metropolitan area reached 97 degrees Sunday, and were expected to begin dropping from 95 to the low 90s during the week, with overnight lows generally in the mid-60s, according to the NWS.
The mercury peaked at 111 in the Palm Springs area on Sunday with an expected overnight low of 85. During the week, Palm Springs temperatures were predicted to remain over 110.
The Temecula Valley reached 93 on Sunday, and was expected to drop to 67 at night. Throughout the week, Temecula Valley temperatures were predicted to remain generally in the mid-to-high 80s, according to the NWS.
A strong ridge of high pressure backing into the Great Basin of Utah and Nevada from the east is influencing weather patterns. However, it’s somewhat counterbalanced by low-pressure troughs spinning off of Tropical Storm Alberto that made landfall in northeastern Mexico last week, according to the weather service.
The moisture will produce cloud cover across desert areas, keeping temps in check and possibly fueling scattered thunderstorms in the eastern Coachella Valley, as well as the Palo Verde Valley, through the weekend, meteorologists said.