Heatwaves in the Palm Springs Area: Stats, Explanations, Predictions & Tips

An excessive heat wave has hit the Coachella Valley this weekend, with temperatures expected to reach 114-118 degrees Celsius for the first game against the Handyteens in the desert this summer.

An excessive heat alert is in place for the region until 8pm Monday, with Saturday and Sunday expected to be the hottest days.

Here’s what you need to know to stay safe and cool in the Coachella Valley this summer.

Summer is getting hotter in the Coachella Valley

The top five hottest summers in Coachella Valley history all occurred within the last six years, showing how climate change is increasing average temperatures in the region. In 2021, the region experienced its hottest summer since historic temperature records began a century ago in 1992, with an average temperature of 94 degrees Celsius. Last summer came to an end, The average temperature is 93.9 degrees.

The hottest June-September period in Coachella Valley history:

In 2021, the average temperature is 94 degrees
In 2022, the average temperature is 93.9 degrees
In 2018, the average temperature was 93.5 degrees
In 2020, the average temperature is 93.4 degrees
In 2017, the average temperature was 92.5 degrees

And it just gets hot.Average temperatures in the Coachella Valley are expected to rise due to climate change 8°C to 14°C by the end of the century. Across the United States, extreme heat events are expected to become more frequent and intense in the coming decades, posing increased health risks. High temperatures increase the risk of various health problems such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, increase the risk of hospitalization for heart disease, and exacerbate asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The temperature at night has risen.

Last year Coachella Valley’s second hottest summer on record, and the temperature didn’t even reach 120 degrees (it was in the past). The region also failed to set a record high temperature for 2021. Last summer’s heat was caused by above-average nighttime temperatures, part of a broader trend across the United States.

Last August, the Coachella Valley recorded 30 out of 31 warmer-than-normal lows, and those nighttime lows pushed up average summer temperatures.

The trend of hot summer nights is expected to continue. Since 1970, Average summer lows (or nights) in 230 locations in the United States analyzed by Climate Central have increased by an average of 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer nights are getting warmer in the western regions even earlier, rising an average of 3.5 degrees Celsius. Summer minimums in the United States are rising almost twice as fast as summer daytime maximums.

Sweltering summer nighttime temperatures mean less opportunity to cool off after very hot days, which can exacerbate summer heat stress and other health risks.

more:Hundreds of Palm Springs residents lose power as sweltering heat sets in

How to stay safe and avoid heat injuries

More than 700 people in the United States die each year from extreme heat, according to reports. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People of all ages and risk factors should take the following steps to prevent heat-related injuries.

Stay indoors with air conditioning as much as possible.
Drink lots of water.
Limit outdoor activity, especially at noon when the sun is at its hottest.
Wear loose, light, light-colored clothing and sunscreen when outdoors.
Cool down with a cold shower or bath.
Monitor those most at risk of injury, including infants and young children, people over 65, overweight people, people who exercise excessively during work or exercise, and people with physical illnesses.
Do not leave children or pets in the vehicle.

National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Adams also advises Coachella Valley residents to be outdoors between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., especially at 2 p.m., when daytime temperatures are expected to be the hottest. advises to limit it to around 3:00.

You should also look out for signs of heat exhaustion that can lead to heat stroke. According to NOAA, symptoms of heat stroke include dizziness, thirst, profuse sweating, nausea, and weakness, and if you or someone you’re with are experiencing these symptoms: You should act quickly, such as moving to a cooler place, drinking cold water, and relaxing. Wear clothes and see a doctor if symptoms do not improve. If unresolved, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which can result in death or permanent disability if not urgently treated. Symptoms of heatstroke include confusion, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. If anyone is experiencing these symptoms, they should call 911 immediately.

How to save energy during heat waves

Power companies have already warned residents to conserve energy during heatwaves to avoid possible blackouts. Excessive use of air conditioners during heat waves strains the power grid and can lead to rolling blackouts by power grid operators. These blackouts are potentially life-threatening, leaving people without air conditioning or electricity when they need it most.

The Imperial Irrigation District, which is based in Imperial County and also powers La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, Bermuda Dunes, other unincorporated areas, and parts of the Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, and Indian Wells, issued an energy conservation alert. issued the order. According to an IID press release, the alert “reminds consumers to voluntarily conserve energy when electricity demand may exceed supply” to avoid blackouts.

IID asks customers to:

When you’re at home, set your air conditioner’s thermostat to 78 degrees or higher. Raise your thermostat when you leave the house.
Avoid using major electrical appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, ovens, pool pumps, applicable industrial equipment, charging electric vehicles, etc.) between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. please give me.
Turn off unnecessary lights.
Unplug or turn off electrical devices that are not in use.
Close blinds and curtains to prevent the sun from heating your home.
Use floor or ceiling fans if possible. However, the fan only cools the person, not the space, so turn off the fan when you leave the room. “

Southern California Edison also used energy-hungry appliances during the 4-9 p.m. after hours, pre-cooling the home earlier in the day, and turning the air conditioner to 78 degrees at its peak. By setting the above, customers are encouraged to reduce their power usage between 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm. time.

Power companies are also planning planned power outages that will affect hundreds of Palm Springs residents over the next two weeks. It drew criticism from the Palm Springs City Council for its decision to cut power during the heat wave of the summer.

Some local cities require air conditioning in rental units

California law requires homes to have heating systems that keep indoor temperatures around 70 degrees Celsius during the cooler months, but there are no state standards for air conditioning or cooling during the hotter months. As such, air conditioning and cooling requirements are left up to individual cities, who may choose to add cooling system requirements to their building codes.

The city of Los Angeles this month began considering a cooling mandate that could require all rental units to have air conditioning or central air conditioning.

For Coachella Valley residents, whether similar protections are available depends on where you live. Both Cathedral City and Palm Springs require residential units to have air conditioning that can maintain a maximum temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit in all habitable rooms. Landlords in these two valley cities are responsible for supplying and maintaining air conditioning in their rental units.

All other valley cities follow state building codes and have no additional requirements for air conditioning.

Cooling center opens across the valley

If you need some free space to cool off, Here is a complete list of cooling centers available throughout the Coachella Valley.

Coachella Senior Center: 1540 7th St., Coachella. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Desert Hot Springs Library: 14-380 Palm Drive, Desert Hot Springs. Hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday 11am to 4pm, Thursday 12pm to 4pm, and Saturday 11am to 4pm.
Desert Hot Springs Senior Center: 11-777 West Drive, Desert Hot Springs. Open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. seniors only.
Coachella Valley Rescue Mission: 84-110 Manila Street, Indio. Open daily from 7am to 5pm.
Indio Senior Center: 45-700 Aladdin Street, Indio. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. seniors only.
Martha’s Village & Kitchen: 83-791 Date Ave., Indio Open daily from 9am to 4pm.
La Quinta Wellness Center: 78-450 Ave La Fonda, La Quinta. Open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm.
Makkah Community Center: 65-250 Coahuila St., Mecca. Open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 1pm.
North Shore Beach and Yacht Club: 99155 Seaview Drive, North Shore. Hours of operation are 8 AM to noon and 4 PM to 8 PM, Monday through Friday.
Joshilung Center: 73-750 Catalina Way, Palm Desert. Open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. Available only to those aged 55 and over.
Palm Desert Community Center: 43-900 San Pablo Ave., Palm Desert. Open Monday through Friday from 6am to 9pm.
Palm Desert Library: 73-300 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 10am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm.
Demus Community Center: 3601 E. Mesquite Avenue, Palm Springs. Open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm.
James O. Jesse Desert Highland Unity Center: 480 W. Tramview Road, Palm Springs. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.
Palm Springs Public Library: 300 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs. Hours of operation are Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm, Tuesday-Wednesday 10am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-5pm.
Jerry Rammons Senior & Community Center: 87-229 Church St., Thermal. Open Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm.
Art Samson Community Library: 31-189 Robert Road, Thousand Palms. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 11am to 4pm and Saturday from 11am to 3pm.