Riverside is waking up to a sunny Thursday with a high near 89°F — roughly 5 to 10 degrees above the seasonal average for the Inland Empire, according to the National Weather Service. If outdoor plans are on your agenda, get an early start and pack your allergy relief nasal spray before heading out.
Today’s Setup
Sunshine dominates all day. Southwest winds build to 0–15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph by afternoon, keeping it breezy but also pushing pollen through the valley. Overnight lows fall to around 58–59°F with clear skies and a west wind shift — great sleeping-window weather. Check the Riverside weather forecast for real-time updates throughout the day.
Best Window To Be Outside
Early morning is your sweet spot. Head to the Santa Ana River Trail, Box Springs Mountain Reserve, or Riverside Botanic Gardens before 11 AM PT, when temps are still comfortable. The heat peaks near 89°F by mid-afternoon, and those 25 mph gusts can make extended outdoor time draining. Golfers: tee off at sunrise, not sunset today.
Allergy and Air Quality Watch
Warm, dry, and breezy conditions make for a rough allergy day across Riverside and the broader Inland Empire. Southwest winds carry pollen from surrounding hillsides and agricultural areas straight into the valley. Inside, run a HEPA air purifier or a Levoit air purifier large room to scrub incoming pollen. If you’ve been putting off that furnace filter swap, a washable HVAC air filter MERV 13 is worth the upgrade this week. Heading outside for yardwork? A pollen count face mask helps cut exposure, and tossing eye drops for allergy itch relief in your bag is a smart move.
Angels Weekend at the Big A
Weather sets up beautifully for baseball at Angel Stadium in Anaheim this weekend. The Los Angeles Angels host the Athletics on Friday, May 22 with a high near 85°F and sunny skies — a near-perfect outdoor ballgame forecast. The Angels then welcome the Texas Rangers for games on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24. Temperatures ease slightly as a marine layer begins nudging inland, but expect dry and comfortable conditions for all three games. Grab your seats via Get tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub, and represent in a Los Angeles Angels jersey or a Los Angeles Angels fitted cap. Also on Friday: the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship hits Acrisure Arena at Greater Palm Springs — an indoor venue, so weather is a non-factor there.
Next Few Days
Friday dips to a high near 85°F — still sunny, a touch cooler. The National Weather Service says marine layer clouds will gradually increase through the weekend, spreading farther inland through Inland Empire valleys and nudging highs closer to seasonal averages (low-to-mid 80s for Riverside by Saturday). Early next week brings additional cooling, with mornings starting cloudier and daytime clearing becoming slower and more limited. Browse outdoor gear deals if this weekend’s sunshine has you planning a trip to Big Bear or Joshua Tree.
For dinner tonight, a quick stir-fry or pasta is a smart call — no heavy oven time needed when the house is still warm. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything delivered to your door.
