Palm Springs, Idyllwild break daily heat records Tuesday

"Dangerously hot" and record-breaking conditions — with highs from 114 to 122 degrees — are expected throughout the Coachella Valley this week. 

Palm Springs hit a high of 120 degrees on Tuesday, breaking the previous high temperature record of 116 for June 15 that was set in 1961, the San Diego National Weather Service reported on Facebook. 

Other areas in Riverside County also broke long-held records. Idyllwild hit 99 degrees Tuesday, breaking the previous record of 98 degrees, similarly set in 1961. San Jacinto reached a temperature of 107, beating the record of 103 degrees from 2007.

Also in the forecast for Palm Springs this week is a high of 115 degrees on Wednesday and 117 on Thursday. An excessive heat warning for several Coachella Valley cities remains in effect until 9 p.m. Sunday. 

Riverside County health officials are encouraging residents to visit one of the more than 40 cool centers across the county, especially those who are susceptible to excessive heat, including the elderly and families with young children. Centers will provide snacks, water and activities. 

A map of current cool centers from the Community Action Partnership of Riverside County lists the Palm Springs Public Library; James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center and Well in the Desert, which are also in Palm Springs; the Palm Desert Library; and Martha's Village & Kitchen in Indio, among others. 

“High temperatures in portions of Riverside County are nothing new, but those being predicted during the week can be very unsafe, particularly for those who are very young, very old and those with underlying health conditions,” said Dr. Geoffrey Leung, the county's public health officer. “You do not want to ignore the potential for harm.”

Residents should limit outdoor activities to the early morning or after sunset, and "cut back" on physically strenuous activities like jogging, the release said. Workers in the Coachella Valley should take caution, even if they "believe they are acclimated to the heat," the county said. 

This upcoming weekend, a slight cooling trend will begin on Saturday and continue next week, the National Weather Service reported. The high on Sunday could drop by a few degrees to 112, and then near 110 by next Monday. 

Amanda Ulrich writes for The Desert Sun as a Report for America corps member. She can be reached on Twitter at @AmandaCUlrich.