Soaring Temps and Soaring Eagles: Big Bear Chicks Grow as Desert Heat Breaks Records

It's a week of contrasts across Southern California—from growing eagle chicks in the mountains to record-breaking heat on the desert floor.

In Big Bear, eaglets Sunny and Gizmo are officially past the newborn phase. They're now over a month old, and you can see the changes: adult feathers coming in, downy fluff on its way out, and wings finally catching up to those famously oversized feet. Their mother, Jackie, has been spotted nearby, enjoying the warmer spring air.

Weather in Big Bear has been ideal for their development, holding steady in the 60s with clear skies through next week—just right for some eagle growth spurts.

Meanwhile, back down in the Coachella Valley, it’s been a scorcher. Palm Springs hit 103 degrees today, breaking a previous record of 101 set back in 1990. It was also 102 in Thousand Palms and 83 up in Yucca Valley.

As the sun sets, the overnight lows in the high 60s will provide some relief. But it’s not just heat that residents are feeling—gusty winds are on the move, especially near Whitewater and Cabazon, where gusts are expected to reach up to 40 mph Saturday. Travelers along I-10 should be cautious, particularly those driving high-profile vehicles.

For most of the Valley, Saturday will bring breezy conditions, but nothing extreme. A ridge of high pressure currently southeast of the region will begin shifting west by early next week. That movement, paired with a northern system, will bring slightly cooler temps by Tuesday, settling us back into seasonal averages.

According to the Comfort Air 7-Day Forecast, expect sunny skies and 90s through the weekend, dipping back into the 80s by next Friday.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.