Triple digit temperatures expected in Riverside County for fourth consecutive day

Triple-digit temperatures are expected in RiversideCounty for the fourth consecutive day today and into the weekend, but the worse of this week’s heat wave is nearly over, according to forecasters.

The National Weather Service attributed the oppressive heat to a ridge of high pressure over the southwestern states.

An excessive heat warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. for the InlandEmpire and the Coachella Valley. During the warning period, daytime highs inthe Inland Empire are expected to be between 98 and 110 degrees, with overnightlows of 68 to 78 degrees.

In the Coachella Valley, the NWS forecast daytime highs between 108 to
118 degrees, with heat index values of 112 to 122 and overnight lows of 85 to
95 degrees. The heat index values factor in the humidity to determine how hot
it really feels.

“Hot days followed by warm and humid nights can limit the body’sability to keep cool,” according to an NWS advisory. “Visiting hikers andcampers unfamiliar with intense desert heat are especially susceptible to heatstroke or heat exhaustion. Pets are also susceptible to this heat.”

Daytime highs in mountain areas will range from 100 in the foothills to
the mid-80s above 6,500 feet. There’s also a slight chance of afternoon showers
and thunderstorms in the mountains through Monday, NWS forecasters said.