Extreme heat: At least 10 days of temps above 110 degrees in forecast. Will records fall?
Temperatures were expected to to reach a high of 112 degrees in Palm Springs on Thursday, but that’s only the start of a long heat wave scorching the region that’s expected to bring temperatures of up to 120 degrees this weekend.
“We’re only expecting temperatures to go up from here,” said Samantha Connolly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s San Diego office.
Starting Friday, high temperatures in the region are forecasted at 115 degrees and above at least through Monday and Tuesday, with high temperatures topping out at 120 to 121 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, bringing temperatures at 120 or above to the region for the first time since 2021.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Palm Springs is 123 degrees, so “we’re approaching all-time record level temperatures,” Connolly said.
High temperatures this week are part of a broader heat wave spanning the American Southwest due to a strong high-pressure system that’s settled over the weekend. It’s notable both in terms of temperatures and duration: In Palm Springs, temperatures are expected to be over 110 degrees for at least 10 straight days, starting on July 11 and lasting at least through July 20, the end of the National Weather Service’s forecasting period.
The greatest number of consecutive days with temperatures greater than or equal to 110 degrees was 27 days in July 1959. More recently, the region hit a streak of 12 days at or above 110 degrees in August 2020, which “we could definitely exceed” once the NWS forecast goes out further, according to Connolly.
An excessive heat warning is in effect for the Coachella Valley until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Local utilities also are urging residents to conserve energy, with Imperial Irrigation District issuing a conserve alert from 4 to 9 p.m. each day from Thursday through Monday. These alerts are issued when demand is high, typically during heat waves, which could result in potential power outages if demand exceeds supply. Southern California Edison is also asking customers to conserve energy during peak hours from 4 to 9 p.m.
Staying safe: What you need to know about extreme summer heat in the desert this summer
This week’s heat wave comes as climate change continues to drive up temperatures in Southern California and elsewhere, while also increasing the number of extreme heat events. According to Climate Central’s Climate Shift Index, which analyzes the impact of climate change on daily weather, Saturday’s upcoming high temperatures in Palm Springs were made at least five times more likely by climate change.
Coachella Valley residents also can’t expect much relief at nighttime over the next week, with low temperatures in the 80s to low 90s. Climate change has been increasing nighttime temperatures at a rate faster than daytime temperatures, making it even harder for people to cool off and stay safe during heat waves, especially those without air conditioning.
And beyond the next 10 days of temperatures over 110 degrees, Climate change is expected to push average high temperatures in the Coachella Valley up by 8 to 14 degrees by the end of this century.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs area record heat
