The heat that has been cooking the Inland Empire for the past few days continued to intensify Wednesday, threatening to shatter more temperature records before conditions begin to ease over the weekend.
National Weather Service forecasters said “moderate or greater” heat risk will continue Wednesday and into the weekend.
“For Thursday and Friday, some portions of the lower deserts, inland valleys, and inland Orange County will reach Major Heat Risk which can be dangerous to anyone without proper hydration or adequate cooling,” according to the NWS.
A high-pressure system that triggered the heat wave was continuing to strengthen.
“There will continue to be widespread records tied or broken for record high temperatures and record warm low temperatures except near the beaches,” according to the NWS. “There will also be a growing number of monthly records for heat for March that will also be tied or broken.
“Outside of the immediate coast, Thursday and Friday are likely to be the hottest days depending on location with high temperatures as much as 30 to 35 degrees above average for the inland valleys and lower elevations of the mountains. High temperatures will range from the 80s near the coast to the upper 90s to 104 for the Inland Empire with 108 to 112 for the lower deserts. The existing record highest temperature for the United States for March appears to be 108, reached three different times across two locations in south Texas.”
On Tuesday in Palm Springs, the high reached 103 degrees — beating the previous record of 100 from 2007, the weather service said. The mercury reached the same level in Thermal, narrowly passing the previous record, set in 2007, of 102.
The weather service said Indio set a new record at 104, undoing the previous one for March 17, 2007, when the heat peaked at 101.
At Riverside Municipal Airport, the temperature topped out at 101, well above the previous record of 92 set in 2004.
The mountaintop community of Idyllwild also established a new record, reaching 85. The last record set for the date was in 2017, when the high hit 76, according to the National Weather Service.
An extreme heat warning will be in effect for the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass until 8 p.m. Saturday. A heat advisory is in effect for the Riverside metropolitan area until 8 p.m. Friday.
Forecasters advised the public to “drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room (and) stay out of the sun.”
“Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles,” the weather service said. “Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Take extra precautions when outside.
“Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
The official start of spring is Friday.
A list of cooling centers throughout Riverside County can be found at countyofriverside.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5ffaf74e67244 b829796eeb8df6bc6a7.