Riverside County is in for a scorching week, with widespread triple-digit highs expected throughout the county all next weekend, forecasters said Sunday.
An extreme heat warning was in effect until at least 8 p.m. Monday, with highs ranging from 8 to 12 degrees above average. Sunday’s temperatures were expected to approach 100 degrees in the downtown Riverside area, 95 in Temecula, 102 in Hemet, 113 in Coachella and 112 in Palm Springs, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters expected the ridge to weaken slightly and shift farther east, allowing for temperatures to be slightly cooler on Tuesday and Wednesday, but still around 5 degrees above the seasonal average.
By Thursday, temperatures were expected to gradually warm up again, reaching highs around 10 to 15 degrees above seasonal average by Friday.
Temperatures in the low 100s were expected Friday and Saturday in downtown Riverside , while Temecula is expected to reach the upper 90s those days. In Hemet, high temperatures were expected to reach 105 on Friday and 107 Saturday.
Forecasters predict highs of 117 in the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs on Friday, and 118 on Saturday.
Overnight lows will be higher than average too, staying in the upper 60s and low-to-mid 70s in the downtown Riverside area. In Palm Springs, lows will linger in the 80s most of the week, then stay in the lower 90s next weekend.
The NWS advised the public to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room and remain out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
People are also urged to never leave children and pets in a parked vehicle for even a minute, as temperatures inside can reach deadly levels very rapidly.