RIVERSIDE (CNS) – High temperatures will soar well into the triple digits again Monday in the Coachella Valley, but cooler weather is expected this week throughout Riverside County, according to the National Weather Service.
A trough of low pressure near the coast will bring gradually cooler temperatures through Thursday, forecasters said.
High temperatures today are forecast to reach 115 in the Coachella Valley, 102 in the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, 99 in Hemet, 97 in Riverside, 97 in Lake Elsinore, 92 in Temecula and 87 in Idyllwild.
The mercury in Palm Springs hit 122 on Friday, tying a record for the date set in 1972, according to the NWS. Thermal, San Jacinto and Idyllwild also set high-temperature records on Friday with highs of 120, 108 and 96, respectively.
Air quality will be unhealthy through tonight in parts of the San Gorgonio Pass, the Coachella Valley and Hemet-San Jacinto Valley, due to the 20,500-acre Apple Fire, which is burning from Cherry Valley into the San Bernardino National Forest.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory on Saturday that will continue through tonight in those three areas.
Under such advisories, the air quality is considered unhealthy for senior citizens and individuals who suffer from heart disease, asthma or other respiratory illnesses.
Health officials advise sensitive individuals living or working in areas affected by ash and smoke from the fire to minimize outdoor activities and stay indoors as much as possible.