Posted August 14, 2006, 7:21 AM.

July's average temperature of 79.0°F in Temecula, a full five degrees above normal, made it the hottest recorded month in at least eight years. Not only was it the hottest July, but it was the hottest month, beating the former record of 76.4°F in August, 2003. The average high in Temecula was 94.3°F.

Lake Elsinore's average temperature of 84.3°F for July was the hottest of the eight sites. Lake Elsinore recorded 23 highs in excess of 100°F, included 113.4°F on July 22nd.

The Menifee Valley weather station was right behind with an average of 83.4°F for July, and 20 triple digit days.

Hemet's July came in at an average 82.5°F, at least a four year record, with 16 triple digit days. Riverside had 11 triple digit days, and an average temperature of 82.5°F.

Strangely, De Luz recorded WeatherCurrents' all-time high temperature of 113.5°F, also on July 22nd. Murrieta also recorded 113.5°F that day, and only Hemet didn't set a station record. The average temperature in Murrieta for July was 79.7°F, slightly hotter than in Temecula.

Fallbrook, normally much cooler, had three 100°F, more than in the prior two summers combined. The monthly average temperature was 76.0°F, the coolest of the eight WeatherCurrents locations but still a record for the location.

Although July was notable for its highs, it was also notable for record minimum temperatures. The morning lows on July 22nd were by far the warmest recorded at most WeatherCurrents sites. The warm lows kept air conditioners in the region working hard even through the nights.