A brutal stretch of heat continues throughout Riverside County, with conditions that will increase the risk of wildfires in the metropolitan area and the mountains, according to the National Weather Service.
At 1 p.m. Saturday in Palm Springs it was already at 120 degrees and 113 degrees in Riverside at 113 degrees, the NWS said.
Sunday won’t provide any relief, with high triple-digit temperatures again forecast across the region.
High pressure will strengthen over the West Coast through Labor Day, ushering in the sweltering conditions, forecasters said. The heat, low relative humidity and gust winds out of the east will also elevate fire weather conditions on Sunday.
Humidity will drop to the 15-20 percent range on Sunday with poor overnight recovery, forecasters said. Winds out of the east are expected to reach speeds between 15-25 mph, with gusts potentially reach 30-40 mph near the San Gorgonio Pass.
An excessive heat warning is in effect through 8 p.m. Monday throughout Riverside County. The NWS also issued a fire weather watch from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon in the Riverside metropolitan area and the county mountains.
The fire weather watch comes with a warning that any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and outdoor burning is not recommended.
A brush fire developed at midday Saturday in Yucaipa, quickly growing to 400 acres and sending a large plume of smoke into the sky that was visible in many parts of neighboring Riverside County.
The NWS urged residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and check on relatives and neighbors. Also, children, seniors 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.
Riverside County has 35 cooling centers available countywide with mandatory mask wearing and social distancing protocols in place.
A full list can be found at www.capriverside.org/Cool-Centers.