By Reginald Stanley. Posted April 26, 2020, 2:59 AM.

High pressure, an unusually hot air mass, and offshore flow were responsible for the heat wave across the region this week, sending temperatures well into the 90s inland.

WeatherCurrents' station in Lake Elsinore reached triple digit temperatures on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Across most of the region, the heat peaked on Friday, with widespread high temperatures in the upper 90s being prevalent inland. Wildomar and De Luz both recorded high temperatures just under the triple digit mark, at 99 degrees. The heat was less intense at higher elevations, where WeatherCurrents' stations in Anza, Beaumont (Cherry Valley) and Pinon Hills all had high temperatures below 90 degrees. Warm overnight temperatures, roughly 10 degrees above average for this time of year, have been present across the region since Thursday. The summer-like heat and dry weather stands in stark contrast to the cold, very wet weather the region experienced in March and early April.

Weak onshore flow helped to bring temperatures down slightly on Saturday, and onshore flow is forecast to strengthen through Monday, allowing for some temporary relief from the hot weather. High pressure is expected to strengthen again beginning on Tuesday, once again ushering hot weather to the region mid-week. A deep trough is forecast to cool the region down significantly late in the week.