'Bad Timing': Coachella Weekend 1 To Bake With Triple-Digit Heat, NWS Warns

INDIO, CA — As thousands begin to arrive for the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, forecasters are urging caution: The weather is heating up — and fast.

Temperatures in Indio are expected to spike well above seasonal averages starting Thursday, just as festival campers arrive and the event grounds begin to fill. By Friday, when the festival officially opens, the National Weather Service predicts highs of 102 to 103 degrees, marking the hottest day of the weekend.

“Temperatures are going to be about 15 degrees above normal,” Alex Tardy, a meteorologist with the NWS in San Diego, told Patch. “Instead of the usual upper 80s for this time of year, we’re looking at 101, 102 — even 103 — as the festival kicks off.”

Adding to the heat, the air will also be very dry.

"It's bad timing for sure," Tardy said.

Though the Coachella Valley is no stranger to heat, Tardy said temperatures expected 10 to 15 degrees above normal is considered "unusual" for this time of year. The weather service, which is working directly with the festival, is expecting "moderate heat risk," Tardy said.

By Sunday, temperatures are expected to drop into the low 90s, but attendees should brace for strong, gusty winds picking up late Saturday night and into Sunday, he said.

"You don’t want unusual heat, and you don’t want unusual wind,” Tardy said, adding that this weekend will have both. "It's going to be rough, and especially for those people who are who are out doing things in the afternoon."

COACHELLA WEATHER:

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 100 and a low around 68. Winds are forecast to remain calm.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 97 and a low around 63. Winds could pick up during the evening.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 92 and a low of around 61. Strong wind gusts are likely.

What Attendees Should Expect — and How to Prepare

Festival-goers can expect little shade and dry air with low humidity, which Tardy emphasized is a dangerous combination for dehydration and heat-related illness.

“This type of heat sneaks up on you,” he warned. “Even when the sun goes down, you might not feel okay because you’ve just been out in it too long.”

Key tips for staying safe:

• Hydrate constantly — not just water, but electrolyte-rich drinks can help too. Avoid sugary or alcoholic beverages.
• Wear light-colored, breathable clothing and bring sun protection like hats and sunscreen.
• Seek shade when possible — even brief breaks can reduce your body’s heat load.
• Avoid peak heat — If possible, stay out of the sun before 7 p.m., when temperatures begin to drop.

The good news? Evenings should be more bearable.

“We’ll have low temperatures in the 60s, so it’ll be fairly nice after sunset,” Tardy said. “If it were me, I’d avoid the afternoon entirely and just have fun after 7 p.m.”

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• Coachella's First Weekend Sells Out: Post Malone, Lady Gaga, Green Day

Behind the Scenes: How NWS Supports Coachella

Tardy said the NWS is working directly with Goldenvoice and the city of Indio to provide daily briefings to festival organizers, public safety teams and emergency managers.

The weather service helps them prepare not just for the concerts but for the intense setup and breakdown work happening in between weekends — especially when weather like wind becomes a concern.

"Right now it is a mad house out there. They have cranes and cherry pickers and forklifts and golf carts going everywhere," he said. "They are doing a lot of preparation, even though there's no active concert going on."

Looking ahead to weekend two, Tardy said early signs point to more moderate temperatures — around 90 degrees — though that’s still above average and calls for preparation.

The Sundown Lineup

For those looking to take Tardy's advice, here are all of the artists that will hit the Coachella stages after 7 p.m. this weekend.

Friday, April 12

Coachella Stage

• 7:10 p.m. – Benson Boone
• 9 p.m. – Missy Elliott
• 11:10 p.m. – Lady Gaga

Outdoor Theatre

• 8:20 p.m. – The Marías
• 10:10 p.m. – Parcels

Gobi

• 7 p.m. – A.G. Cook
• 8:15 p.m. – Artemas
• 9:30 p.m. – Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso
• 10:40 p.m. – Indo Warehouse

Mojave

• 8:35 p.m. – Miike Snow
• 10:05 p.m. – The Prodigy

Sahara

• 7:45 p.m. – Lisa
• 9:10 p.m. – Yeat
• 10:25 p.m. – GloRilla
• 11:50 p.m. – Mustard

Yuma

• 7 p.m. – Tinlicker
• 8:15 p.m. – Pete Tong x Ahmed Spins
• 9:45 p.m. – Chris Stussy
• 11:15 p.m. – Vintage Culture

Saturday, April 13

Coachella Stage

• 7:15 p.m. – Charli XCX
• 9:05 p.m. – Green Day
• 12 a.m. – Travis Scott

Outdoor Theatre

• 8:15 p.m. – Clairo
• 9:45 p.m. – Above & Beyond
• 11:20 p.m. – The Original Misfits

Gobi

• 9:40 p.m. – Beth Gibbons
• 11 p.m. – Rawayana

Mojave

• 9:45 p.m. – Horsegiirl
• 11 p.m. – The Dare

Sahara

• 8:35 p.m. – Enhypen
• 9:50 p.m. – Mau P
• 11:30 p.m. – Keinemusik

Yuma

• 8 p.m. – Mind Against x Massano
• 9:30 p.m. – Amelie Lens
• 11 p.m. – Eli Brown

Sunday, April 14

Coachella Stage

• 7 p.m. – Junior H
• 8:35 p.m. – Megan Thee Stallion
• 10:25 p.m. – Post Malone

Outdoor Theatre

• 7:45 p.m. – Jennie
• 9:10 p.m. – Zedd
• 10:55 p.m. – Polo & Pan

Gobi

• 8:35 p.m. – Arca
• 9:55 p.m. – Amyl and the Sniffers

Mojave

• 9:25 p.m. – Kraftwerk

Sahara

• 8:10 p.m. – Chase & Status
• 9:35 p.m. – Ty Dolla $ign
• 10:55 p.m. – XG

Yuma

• 9 p.m. – Francis Mercier
• 10:30 p.m. – Dixon x Jimi Jules