By Reginald Stanley. Posted September 5, 2024, 11:17 PM.

Strong high pressure over Southern California and Nevada has brought some of the hottest temperatures this summer to the region late this week.

While many inland valley communities were already experiencing significant heat in excess of 100 degrees on Wednesday, temperatures soared even higher Thursday with highs near or above 110 degrees nearly everywhere inland. In the WeatherCurrents network, Lake Elsinore was the hottest location Thursday with a high of 117 degrees there. Temecula, Murrieta, French Valley, Hemet and San Jacinto also reached 110 degrees Thursday afternoon. Even normally-cooler communities closer to the coast, such as Fallbrook, reached 103 degrees. Only Pinon Hills failed to reach triple-digits.

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for nearly all of Southern California through 8 PM Monday, due to dangerously hot conditions and excessively warm nights. The National Weather Service advises people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

High temperatures are forecast to remain roughly the same going into early next week, with nighttime temperatures not cooling much and offering little relief. Monsoonal moisture is forecast to enter the region on Saturday, and while it is predicted to mostly affect the mountains and high deserts, easterly flow could allow for thunderstorm activity further west in areas such as the Elsinore Convergence Zone, and other parts of the inland valleys. This moisture is expected to decrease somewhat on Sunday. Temperatures throughout next week may drop around Tuesday, however longer-range forecasts suggest the possible return of strong ridging and hot weather later in the week.