RivCo Swelter: See Top Temperatures Recorded Across The County

BANNING, CA — Extreme temperatures were recorded in many areas of Riverside County this week as a brutal heat wave continued to bear down on the Golden State.

On Friday, the highest temperatures were recorded in Palm Springs, 111 degrees; Thermal, 108 degrees; Riverside, 104 degrees and Temecula, 102 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

An excessive heat warning remained in effect for Riverside County through Tuesday for the region, which was expected to see "dangerously hot conditions" with temperatures up to 112 degrees.

On Saturday, temperatures were expected to reach 109 degrees in Riverside.

"Drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the midday sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes," National Weather Service officials said in a statement.

Find a list of cooling centers near you in Riverside County.

Here are the top 10 hottest temperatures recorded across the Southland on Friday.

1. Riverside - 104 degrees - 11:55 a.m.
2. Fallbrook - 103 degrees - 11:55 a.m.
3. Rimln2 - 101 degrees - 11:14 a.m.
4. San Bernardino - 101 degrees - 11:55 a.m.
5. Chino - 100 degrees - 11:55 a.m.
6. Murrieta Hot Springs - 99 degrees - 11:55 a.m.
7. Hesperia 99 degrees - 11:55 a.m.
8. Ramona - 99 degrees - 1155 a.m
9. Ramona - 99 degrees - 11:55 a.m.
10. San Diego - 98 degrees - 11:55 a.m.

The California Independent System Operator, which manages the state's power grid, has issued Flex Alerts for three consecutive days, calling on residents to voluntarily reduce their power use between 4 and 9 p.m. Friday will be the third straight day of the alerts, and Cal-ISO has warned that more are likely over the weekend.

Residents are asked to make the following adjustments under the alert:

• Set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher
• Avoid using large appliances
• Avoid charging electric vehicles
• Turn off unnecessary lights

"Lowering electricity use during that time will ease strain on the system, and prevent more drastic measures, including rotating power outages," grid operators wrote in a statement.

So far, residents have heeded the call, and the state's electrical grid has operated without any major interruptions during the beginning stages of the heat wave. If the Flex Alerts fail to result in reduced power usage and the system is strained, Cal-ISO could ultimately impose rolling power cuts.

Despite the state's recent push for residents to ditch gas-powered cars, the utility grid operator has asked residents to avoid charging their electric vehicles. The request to avoid charging such vehicles comes days after the state announced plans to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.

If weather or grid conditions worsen, grid operators said they may issue a series of emergency notifications to access additional resources.

"We will be seeing dangerously warm temperatures this weekend," the National Weather Service tweeted out of its Bay Area office.

In what’s forecast to be the most extensive heat wave in California this year, temperatures in Northern California are expected to be 10-20 degrees warmer than normal through next week. In Southern California, temperatures are expected to climb 10-18 degrees warmer than usual.

"An extended period of dangerous heat will impact much of our area over the holiday weekend and into early next week. All populations will be at risk for heat-related illnesses. Drink plenty of water, seek air conditioning, and avoid outdoor activities during the day," NWS officials said.