Gusty Winds, Scattered Showers Expected In RivCo

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — After a few days of sunny and warm temperatures in the Inland Empire, scattered showers began falling in Riverside County Tuesday amid gusty wind conditions, meteorologists said. A low-pressure system moving south through the region is to thank.

The best chance of showers will be late Tuesday morning through this evening in the county mountains and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, forecasters said.

Rainfall totals could reach two-tenths of an inch in the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and nine-tenths of an inch in the mountains, while less than one-tenth of an inch is expected in the Riverside metropolitan area, Lake Elsinore and the Coachella Valley, according to the NWS.

Forecasters put the chance of rain at 50 percent everywhere except the Coachella Valley, where there is a 20 percent chance of precipitation. Snow levels will drop to 7,000 feet Tuesday afternoon.

Gusty winds are expected in the mountains, the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and the Coachella Valley, forecasters said.

The NWS issued a wind advisory through 9 p.m. for sustained winds of at least 35 mph in all three sectors.

The westerly winds are expected to range from 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching 60 mph possible, forecasters said.

Powerful winds could whip up sand and dust and create potentially hazardous driving conditions, especially for high-profile vehicles, the NWS warned. The gusty conditions are expected to peak Tuesday afternoon and early this evening, forecasters said.

Due to an unhealthy air quality forecast in the Coachella Valley, those with heart or lung disease, children and seniors were advised to limit time outdoors.

The rain and high winds are expected to leave the region by Wednesday morning and temperatures will warm through Thursday, according to the NWS.

Temperatures Tuesday afternoon are expected in the range of 61 to 66 degrees in the Riverside metropolitan area, 51 to 60 in the mountains, 70 to 75 in the San Gorgonio Pass and 75 to 80 in the Coachella Valley.

— City News Service contributed to this report