Riverside and San Bernardino are in for a scorcher on Thursday, with sunny skies and a high near 104°F pushing the heat index to about 105 degrees — plan outdoor time for early morning or after sunset, hydrate often, and keep pets and kids off hot pavement.
Today’s Setup
Thursday is running about 10 degrees above average across the Inland Empire, according to the National Weather Service San Diego office, as high pressure aloft strengthens through the weekend. Expect sunny skies, a high near 104°F, and heat index values as high as 105. West wind runs 0 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph through the afternoon, enough to kick up dust near Riverside’s Mount Rubidoux and San Bernardino’s North Park. Overnight lows only fall to around 75°F, so there’s little relief after dark.
Best Window To Be Outside
Get outside before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. if you’re headed to Fairmount Park or the Santa Ana River Trail, or teeing off at a valley course — sunrise tee times beat the midday blast, and a golf divot repair tool is worth tossing in the bag since fairways are baking fast. By midday, pavement around spots like the Riverside Plaza gets brutal, so save errands for early morning.
Heat Risk And Fire Awareness
NWS forecasters note nights will stay unusually warm through Saturday, with lows running 5 to 10 degrees above average, a pattern that keeps fuels dry across the wildfire corridor stretching toward Big Bear and the San Bernardino Mountains. There’s no active red flag warning in today’s discussion, but with dry brush and gusty afternoon winds around, it’s smart to keep a garden hose 100ft ready for defensible space around the yard.
What To Wear Or Bring
Light, breathable clothing, sunscreen, and a full water bottle are non-negotiable today. Planning a pool day or a Big Bear lake trip this weekend? A 2-Person Intex Floating Lounge with Cooler is a smart grab this week.
Local Events And Games This Week
Imagine Dragons plays Yaamava Resort & Casino in Highland tonight — grab tickets on SeatGeek and gear up with an Imagine Dragons t-shirt or Imagine Dragons hat for the show. Temperatures should ease into the mid-80s by showtime as the sun drops. Heading out to LAFC vs Sporting Kansas City at BMO Stadium on July 26? Pack sunscreen for pregame tailgating, pick up an LAFC jersey or LAFC scarf, and find tickets on StubHub before they sell out.
Tonight’s Dinner
This is peak grilling weather. Fire up the grill for burgers, steaks, or grilled chicken with corn on the cob once the sun eases off. An instant-read meat thermometer and grill brush and scraper set make doneness and cleanup a breeze, and this smoke tri-tip guide is worth a look if you want something different. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Friday looks like a repeat: sunny, high near 104°F, lows around 74°F overnight. Saturday stays hot before a gradual cooling and drying trend arrives early next week, with highs easing to roughly 5 degrees above average by midweek. There’s some model signal for a moisture surge Sunday that could bring more clouds and a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms in the mountains — worth watching if you have Big Bear or Joshua Tree plans this weekend. For pool-day gear, check out our outdoor deals roundup before you head out.
