Rare March heat pushes EMS calls higher as cooling centers open across the Coachella Valley

Triple-digit heat arrives early in Southern California, putting seniors at risk

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) A rare March heat wave is already pushing heat-related EMS calls higher across Riverside County as officials urge residents to take the heat seriously and check on elderly neighbors and loved ones.

Countywide heat-related EMS call data provided to KESQ by Riverside County Housing & Workforce Solutions shows daily calls ranged from zero to five between March 1 and March 16. The highest single-day total in the graph was five calls on March 15. County officials said dates not shown on the graph were excluded because there were no heat-related calls on those days.

The heat event itself is unusual for this time of year. Forecasts have called for triple-digit temperatures in the Coachella Valley, with meteorologists describing the event as record-shattering March heat across California and the Southwest.

Greg Rodriguez, deputy director for Government Affairs and Community Engagement with Riverside County Housing & Workforce Solutions, told KESQ this kind of heat arriving this early is out of the norm.

He said desert residents learn to live with extreme heat, but a stretch like this is still a reminder to stay hydrated, stay cool and check on the people around you.

Cooling centers are already open across the county.

CAP Riverside’s current directory and webpages show more than 50 participating centers countywide, with locations and hours available online.

County officials say these are often referred to as “warming centers” because they are part of the county’s larger inclement weather shelter network.

Greg Rodriguez says the contracts run through the end of March, allowing them to be used now as cooling centers during this unusual heat.

The current participating-center directory includes sites such as the Coachella Senior Center, Indio Senior Center, La Quinta Wellness Center, Palm Desert Library, and Art Samson Community Library in Thousand Palms.

Palm Springs has also opened centers early because of the heat wave, including the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center and the Palm Springs Public Library temporary location at Rimrock Plaza.

At the library location, staff told KESQ the process is simple:

“You just walk in. You don’t need to bring anything with you.”

County officials advise residents to check individual site hours before going because schedules can vary.

Health officials have warned that extreme heat can be dangerous for everyone, especially older adults and people with chronic medical conditions. Riverside University Health System says Riverside County recorded 1,627 heat-related emergency department visits and 66 deaths in 2024. As of October 2025, the county had already recorded 991 heat-related ems visits, and 11 deaths for the year 2025.

For residents looking for help, CAP Riverside says more information, locations and updates are available on its cool-and-warm-centers page. The directory also lists participating centers and contact details for people needing a site near them.

Tonight on News Channel 3 at 6, we'll take a closer look at what this early heat means for the desert and why officials say checking on elderly residents this week is so important.