Wind Creating Difficult Driving Conditions In Parts Of RivCo

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Damaging high winds are expected in parts of Riverside County Thursday, creating difficult driving conditions in some areas and the possibility of downed trees and power lines.

Blowing dust from the Santa Ana winds also prompted an air quality alert across the region.

A high wind warning is in effect until 10 p.m. for western Riverside County, the mountains and through the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning. The Coachella Valley is under a wind advisory, according to the National Weather Service.

Northeast winds from 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph are expected. Isolated gusts up to 75 mph are in the forecast for the foothill areas. The strongest and most widespread winds will arrive Thursday morning and last through the early afternoon, the NWS said.

Ridges of high pressure bearing down on the Great Basin of Utah and Nevada will drive the offshore wind patterns.

"Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines," the NWS stated. "Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles."

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an air quality alert due to "increased particulate matter from blowing dust." The alert is also in effect across the region through 10 p.m. Thursday.

The Santa Ana event follows a windstorm that stretched from Sunday night to Monday evening, during which wind speeds averaged more than 20 mph, with gusts between 40 and 50 mph throughout Riverside County.

No significant damage was reported, though a sandstorm did materialize along Interstate 10 in Indio on Monday morning, and traffic was affected by wind-blown objects on multiple other freeways, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Daytime temperatures on Thursday in the Riverside metropolitan area are forecast to be in the mid-60s, with lows in the low 40s. In the Coachella Valley, the mercury will top out in the upper 60s during the two-day period, with lows in the mid-40s, while in the Temecula Valley, the temperature band will be analogous to Riverside.

—City News Service and Patch Editor Toni McAllister contributed to this report.