By Jim Purpura. Posted April 17, 2012, 11:47 AM.

Warm temperatures early this week will get even warmer later this week as a high pressure ridge continues to build over the area.

High temperatures this week will climb to the middle 90's in many portions of the Inland Empire on Friday and Saturday. In Temecula, this will be the first day of 90°F or above since October 23, 2011, when it warmed to 91 degrees. By comparison, the last time Riverside topped 90°F was January 2, 2012. (Also of note: the same warm period in early January led to WeatherCurrent's Temecula weather station recording the nation's daily high of 89°F on January 1.)

Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, often the local summer hot spots, will be a couple of communities expected to rev up to the middle 90's.

With the morning temperatures starting out in the 50's on Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service does not anticipate reaching the thresholds for heat warnings. However, this early season heat wave may take some by surprise, since many are not acclimated to the warmer temperatures.

Be sure to stay out of the sun during the middle of the day, and drink plenty of water.