Understanding Extreme Heat in the
Inland Deserts
Welcome! This page is designed to educate and empower residents of California's Inland Deserts about the impact of high heat on health and community wellbeing. As climate change leads to hotter temperatures, it's important to understand how to protect ourselves and support each other. You'll find clear explanations, helpful tips, and local resources to stay safe, healthy, and informed during periods of extreme heat.
Our Region and Climate Change
​The Inland Deserts are known for their hot desert climates. Recently, these regions have become even hotter because of climate change. Human activities, especially burning fossil fuels like gasoline and coal, release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, making our temperatures rise faster. Understanding this helps us see why summers are getting hotter and longer, impacting our daily lives.
How Hot
is it?
The inland deserts region in Southern California is getting hotter because of climate change. Heatwaves happen more often, and the temperatures during the day and night are getting higher. For example, Palm Springs had 147 days over 100°F in 2020, which is the highest ever recorded. It also set a new record on July 4, 2024, with a temperature of 124°F. Now, the area regularly has more than 100 days each year with temperatures above 100°F, and there are about two extra weeks each summer when it’s over 110°F compared to years ago. Nights aren’t cooling down as much either, making it harder for people to stay comfortable. Overall, extreme heat is becoming more common and intense in the region.
The Coachella Valley will keep getting hotter because of climate change. By around 2050, summers there might be 6 to 10 degrees hotter than they used to be. By the end of the century, temperatures could be 8 to 14 degrees hotter if pollution continues.This means that a summer day that’s usually around 110°F could feel as hot as 118 to 120°F. All this extra heat means more health risks for people living there.
How Hot is it Going to Get?
Current Heat and Community Health
Extreme heat is already causing serious health problems in the Coachella Valley. Heat illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke are becoming more common, and California emergency rooms saw a 35% increase in heat-related visits from 2005 to 2015. Riverside County, including cities like Palm Springs and Indio, has some of the highest heat-related ER visits statewide, with the Coachella Valley alone responsible for about one-third of the county’s cases. Local hospitals report growing numbers of heat illness patients each summer; for example, a hospital in Indio treated 129 cases in 2021, up significantly from previous years, coinciding with record temperatures of 120–122°F. Heat also leads to deaths, with Riverside County recording around 33 heat-related fatalities each year between 2016 and 2021, and the Coachella Valley experiencing one of the region’s highest death rates. People most at risk include older adults, outdoor workers like farmworkers, and unhoused individuals. Overall, extreme heat is already hurting many people’s health and safety in the Coachella Valley.
Heat Related Illness
Heat-related illnesses happen when your body gets too hot and can’t cool itself down properly. Common heat illnesses include heat exhaustion, which can cause heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, headache, and weakness. If heat exhaustion isn’t treated, it can become heat stroke, a very serious condition where your body temperature rises dangerously high, causing symptoms like confusion, fainting, rapid heartbeat, and hot, dry skin. Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention because it can lead to serious health problems or even death.
High Heat & Community Health Discussion, Participants Stated
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Participants strongly emphasized the worsening heat conditions and their dire effects on daily life.
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Many felt that the government and businesses are not doing enough to protect vulnerable populations.
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There was a call for systemic changes, particularly in workplace protections, community infrastructure, and public health initiatives.
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Some participants expressed skepticism about whether past reports had led to tangible action, underscoring the need for accountability.
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A statement that resonated throughout the discussion:
“If it’s 130 degrees, what will we do— We’ll have to eat ice cream just to survive.”
Beat the Heat
Here are some tips on staying cool and safe during high heat on days.
Outdoor Activities
Slow down and reschedule outdoor activities to cooler times. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and avoid direct sun exposure to prevent overheating.
Check on Others
Regularly check on elderly, sick, or vulnerable people and never leave children or pets unattended in parked vehicles.
Eating and Drinking:
Eat cool, light foods, and drink plenty of water, avoiding caffeine and alcohol. Avoid salt tablets unless directed by a doctor.
Heat Safety for Outdoor Workers
Drink water often, rest and cool down in shaded areas, gradually adjust workloads for new or returning workers, recognize heat illness symptoms, and always check weather forecasts. For more guidelines, visit OSHA’s heat safety resources.
Cooling Down
Stay in air-conditioned spaces, use fans safely, and take cool showers or baths to lower body temperature.
Preparing for Heat
Stay informed about upcoming heat waves, stock up on water and cooling supplies, ensure air conditioning or fans are working, identify local cooling centers, and plan your activities to avoid exposure during the hottest parts of the day.
Resources
