Weather
Palm Desert Temperatures Top 115 Degrees, Area Remains Under Extreme Heat Warning
A dome of high pressure has parked over Southern California as Riverside County residents do their best to stay cool under the August sun.
PALM DESERT, CA — A high-pressure system has settled over SoCal this week, keeping in super-heated weather conditions across western Riverside County, prompting an Extreme Heat Warning for the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, until 8 p.m. Friday. The National Weather Service recorded 117-degree temperatures in Palm Desert Wednesday afternoon, with little reprieve in sight.
A Heat Advisory was also in place for Riverside County and San Bernardino County mountains and valleys until 8 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
(See your full Palm Desert weekly weather forecast below)
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The high pressure will remain firmly in place across the desert southwest through Thursday, which promises to be the hottest day of the week.
"Temperatures could reach 105 degrees in parts of the Inland Empire on Thursday, and 115 in the lower deserts," meteorologists said.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Please take precautions to beat the heat, such as staying in air-conditioned places, taking breaks if having to work outside, and limiting outdoor recreation," meteorologists advised.
The hazy skies are still affected by the Gifford Fire burning in Santa Barbara County, they said.
The high will begin to weaken by Friday, which will ease temperatures by a few degrees, but remain warm. Low-level moisture will also be present as the high weakens Friday into Saturday so that higher humidity will be felt, especially across the lower deserts.
Does that mean a chance for monsoonal storms? Meteorologists say there is a chance for monsoon storms, starting at 5 to 10 percent Friday, and into the weekend in predominantly areas close to the mountains.
In Palm Desert, the weekly weather forecast shows:
Wednesday night
Widespread haze between 8pm and 11pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 86. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Thursday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 114. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
Clear, with a low around 85. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Friday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 112. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 84. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 109.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 84.
Sunday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 110.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 85.
Monday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 111.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 84.
Tuesday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 111.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 82.
Wednesday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 110.
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