By John C. Toman. Posted October 15, 2011, 1:44 PM.

Strong high pressure led to triple-digit heat this past week in Southern California's inland valleys, something that isn't unusual, but was last seen three years ago, in 2008.

Wednesday and Thursday were hot everywhere.

Wildomar (101°F Wednesday, 103°F Thursday), Lake Elsinore (102°F Wednesday, 101°F Thursday) and Menifee (102°F Wednesday, 103°F Thursday) were the hot spots, as they often are.

Fallbrook, usually one of the cooler spots during inland heat waves, registered 101.5°F Thursday. De Luz topped out at 102°F on Wednesday.

Temecula (101°F both days) recorded its first triple digit days of October since 2003.

Riverside, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Perris and French Valley recorded 101°F on Thursday, when the heat hit its maximum.

Hemet fell just short of the 100°F mark (with 99.7°F on Thursday). Jurupa Valley (99.6°F), Beaumont (99°F) and Murrieta (98°F) also did not reach the century mark this past week.

The other weather variables at play this past week: weak offshore flow, and some significant rainfall from the first Pacific storm of the season the week prior.

Because Santa Ana winds didn't flare up and vegetation retained some moisture from the storm, fires that might have been otherwise damaging during the two-day heat wave did not materialize.