Riverside and San Bernardino open the week under sunny skies and a high near 98°F today, with zero chance of rain and a light west wind of 0 to 10 mph — mild by Inland Empire standards, but still a day to front-load your outdoor plans. The National Weather Service says today and Wednesday will actually run a touch cooler than the weekend ahead, so if you’ve got yard work, a trail run near Mount Rubidoux, or a walk along the Santa Ana River Trail on your list, this is the window.
Today’s Setup
Expect sun from sunrise to sunset, temperatures climbing toward 98°F by mid-afternoon, and overnight lows dipping to a comfortable 68-69°F. Wednesday looks nearly identical — high near 97°F, sunny, with west winds picking up slightly to 0-15 mph and gusts to 25 mph, so secure patio furniture set or umbrellas if you’ve got one out.
Best Window To Be Outside
Mornings before 11 AM and evenings after 6 PM are your friend this week. The NWS forecast discussion notes high pressure won’t really strengthen until Thursday, so today and tomorrow are the mildest stretch you’ll see for a while — good for errands in downtown Riverside, a round at a local course, or a trip up to Big Bear if you want cooler mountain air.
Heat Risk Building
The Area Forecast Discussion is clear: high pressure expands westward starting Thursday, with warming that peaks Saturday at 10 to 15 degrees above average inland — potentially near-record for the deserts and mountains. Translation: enjoy the relative break today and Wednesday, because by the weekend this will be serious heat. No rain or severe storms are expected here, and the excessive rainfall risk in the national outlook is confined to the East Coast, not Southern California.
What To Wear Or Bring
Light, breathable clothing and sun protection are smart today, and stock up on Amazon Fresh groceries now before the weekend heat makes grocery runs less pleasant.
Game Day & Weekend Plans
Baseball fans have options nearby: the Los Angeles Angels host the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium on July 29, with warm, dry evening conditions good for tailgating — grab a Los Angeles Angels jersey or Los Angeles Angels fitted cap before first pitch. Over at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers face the Seattle Mariners July 29-31; check our Dodger Stadium game weather breakdown and grab tickets on SeatGeek. If you’re headed toward the desert, Zach Bryan plays Snapdragon Stadium July 31 — find tickets on StubHub and pick up a Zach Bryan t-shirt for the show.
Dinner Tonight
With clear skies and light wind, tonight is ideal grilling weather — burgers, steaks, or grilled chicken with corn on the cob. An instant-read meat thermometer and a grill brush and scraper set make it easy, and if you want to level up, check out our pellet grill tri-tip guide. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Expect sunny, dry weather straight through Wednesday, warming Thursday, and a serious heat spike by Saturday. For more outdoor gear ideas as the heat builds, browse our outdoor gear deals.
