Palm Springs and nearby desert areas have continued to experience unprecedented seasonal temperatures in recent days amid a regional heat wave, repeatedly setting new records for their hottest March days.
The triple-digit temperatures are forecasted to continue into next week, though the heat is not expected to be quite as intense as in recent days.
Palm Springs saw its hottest temperature ever recorded in March over three consecutive days — reaching 106 degrees on March 18, 107 degrees on March 19, and 108 degrees on March 20 — due to a lingering heat dome. Its prior monthly record for March (104 degrees) dates to 1966.
The 108-degree recording in Palm Springs, which was also seen in Thermal and Indio in recent days, tied the prior record for the hottest March day ever recorded nationwide, but a small Arizona community near Yuma broke that record the same week, reaching 110 degrees amid the regional heat wave.
The scorching temperatures in Palm Springs, which are 20 to 30 degrees above average for the season, occurred about two months earlier than when the area typically sees such high temperatures, according to Lauren Villafane, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s San Diego office.
The record-breaking heat wave across the Southwest would be “virtually impossible without human-induced climate change,” according to an analysis by climate scientists from World Weather Attribution published on March 20. It noted that heat waves are the deadliest types of extreme weather events.
“Extreme heat is most deadly earlier in the year, when people have not acclimated to the heat, and vulnerable people are exposed to high temperatures for the first time,” the analysis states.
Forecast in Palm Springs area shows lingering heat
While temperatures are expected to be a few degrees cooler, Palm Springs won’t see significant relief from the scorching heat heading into next week, according to forecasters.
Villafane said a trough of cooler air would bring temperatures down slightly over the weekend, though another high-pressure system was expected to arrive in the desert as early as Tuesday, March 24, and persist through the week, with temperatures likely reaching into the low 100s.
Slightly farther east in the valley, the forecast in Thermal was largely the same.
“We have it forecast to stay above 100 all week for the high,” Villafane said of the forecast in Thermal.
Riverside forecast shows temperatures in the 90s
In Riverside, temperatures weren’t expected to reach as high as in the desert, though they would still likely be well above seasonal norms.
Villafane said the Riverside area could see highs in the upper 80s on Sunday, March 22, followed by highs in the low- to mid-90s for the rest of the week.
The weather is slightly cooler than the record heat Riverside has seen in recent days. On March 20, Riverside reached a high of 102 degrees, tying a March record dating back to 1916, per the weather service.
What’s the outlook for April weather in Palm Springs?
While it was too soon to offer specific forecasts, Villafane said initial models are indicating the weather will be slightly hotter than average heading into early April.
“It is looking like 60% to 70% leaning above average (temperatures) for all the models,” Villafane said of the outlook for early April.
Cooling centers open in Palm Springs, Indio
Amid triple-digit heat, the cities of Palm Springs and Indio recently opened cooling centers for people who need a place to cool off.
In Palm Springs, the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, located at 480 W. Tramview Rd., will be open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The temporary location of the Palm Springs Public Library at 4721 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Suite A, will also be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Martha’s Village and Kitchen will also operate the Palm Springs Access Center, located near the airport at 225 El Cielo Rd., as a daily cooling space for unhoused residents.
Farther east, the Indio Senior Center, located at 45700 Aladdin St., will be open to adults ages 50 and up on weekdays starting at 7:30 a.m.
For those under 50, the Molina Healthcare One-Stop Help Center at 81735 Highway 111 is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (with a 1-hour closure at noon) Monday through Friday.
Tom Coulter is a reporter for The Desert Sun. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs area sees more record heat with no major cooling in sight
Reporting by Tom Coulter, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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