A 120-degree scorcher on Wednesday set daily record highs in both Indio and Thermal on July 9 and marked the highest temperatures recorded so far this year in the Coachella Valley.
Indio’s high temperature Wednesday broke a record in place since 1958, while Thermal surpassed its previous record for July 9 of 117 degrees, also set in 1958, said David Munyon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego.
Indio’s weather records date back to 1894, while Thermal’s begin in 1950.
Palm Springs nearly matched its daily record of 120 degrees, set in 1958, but fell just short with a high of 119 degrees. Nonetheless, it was still the hottest day of the year for Palm Springs.
Will July 10 bring more record highs?
Thermal’s record high for July 10 is 117 degrees, set in 2022, but the forecast calls for a high of 116, just under the record. Indio’s record is 118, though Munyon said it likely won’t be matched.
Palm Springs’ record high for July 10 is 120 degrees, set in 2021, though Munyon said lingering moisture will likely keep temperatures below that level.
“Not that I’m rooting for it,” he said. “We might be on the backside of all this, but it’s going to be a very gradual step down.”
Is some relief finally on the way?
Forecasts show a modest cooldown to the low 110s by Friday and Saturday, with those temperatures expected to persist through the beginning of next week.
Munyon said there are signs a disturbance could move in from the east by the middle of next week. While it’s still early, he noted the system appears to be monsoonal in origin and may bring some mid-level moisture.
“Any rainfall would be limited to the mountains, if any,” he said. “The main kicker is that it will inhibit some of the heat.”
Still, Munyon emphasized the need for caution, especially for those not used to the Coachella Valley’s dry climate and the subtle dangers of extreme heat.
“That phrase ‘dry heat’ is always misleading when it comes to how much moisture we’re actually sweating off and quickly evaporating away before we even notice,” he said.
The bottom line: stay hydrated, particularly for those planning to be outside for more than half an hour.
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Indio and Thermal break daily record highs on year’s hottest day
Reporting by Jennifer Cortez, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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