NWS issues Excessive Heat Warning for Inland Empire

An Excessive Heat Warning was in effect Saturday for the Inland Empire, the National Weather Service announced.

The warning was issued at 5:29 a.m. and will be in effect from 10 a.m. Saturday to 11 p.m. Tuesday. It specified the San Bernardino and Riverside County valleys — the Inland Empire — including the cities of Fontana, Riverside, Moreno Valley, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona and Ontario.

“Dangerously hot conditions” with temperatures reaching the upper 90s to 108 were expected, according to forecasters.

Highs will reach near 120 degrees on Saturday-Tuesday in Cabazon, Palm Springs, Thermal, Desert Center and areas farther east, according to the NWS. Lows in the upper 80s were expected through the weekend.

The Riverside metropolitan area was forecast to reach 101 Saturday and Sunday, then 103 on Monday and Tuesday. Overnight lows were expected to cool down into the low to mid-70s.

In the Temecula Valley and southwest part of Riverside County, highs were predicted to be right around 100 from Saturday to Tuesday, with lows dropping below 70.

A previous NWS warning was only for the San Gorgonio Pass, Coachella Valley and desert areas to the east, but it was expanded Saturday morning to include the Riverside metropolitan area, surrounding parts of western Riverside County and San Bernardino County.

“Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events,” the NWS warned. “Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors” to help prevent the negative effects of heat exposure such as dehydration and heat stroke.

Cooling centers are available in Palm Springs at the Demuth Community Center, James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center and the Palm Springs Public Library. More information is at EngagePalmSprings.com.

Forecasters expected more temperatures near 100 degrees through next week after reaching triple digits regionwide on Friday.

“Temperatures are anywhere from a few degrees to as much as 12 degrees higher than Thursday,” according to an NWS statement. “Temperatures will be on a general upward trend (going into early next week).”

A ridge of high pressure heading west from over the Four Corners region will keep Southern California hot and dry through the weekend and into early next week, according to the NWS. The high pressure will suppress monsoonal moisture until the middle of next week with the return of possible scattered thunderstorms in Coachella Valley areas and the mountains near Anza and Idyllwild.

City News Service contributed to this report.