Santa Ana Winds Returning To Riverside County: NWS Issues Advisory

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Santa Ana winds will return to the Inland Empire Wednesday and Thursday, generating gusts up to 60 mph in some wind-prone locations, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency posted a wind advisory beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday and continuing to 2 p.m. Thursday.

"Winds will work south into the Inland Empire and Orange County through Wednesday morning," according to the NWS. "The (northeast) winds will become strong and gusty ... (with) the strongest gusts of 50 to locally 60 mph, most likely Wednesday night in wind-prone canyons and passes."

The previous Santa Ana wind event spanned three days, beginning Halloween weekend and concluding early last week. Conditions contributed to the rapid spread of a blaze north of Aguanga that consumed nearly 2,500 acres and damaged or destroyed more than a dozen structures, including three homes.

According to surface prognostication charts published by the NWS, a surface trough of low pressure sliding into the region from the north will be the source of the latest event.

Forecasters said low relative humidity will increase wildfire risks again throughout the region.

The low will spin eastward by Thursday afternoon.

The NWS said high temperatures in the Riverside metropolitan area will be in the mid-70s Wednesday and Thursday, with lows in the upper 40s.

In the Coachella Valley, highs will be in the upper 70s, with lows in the low 50s, while in the Temecula Valley, highs will hover in the low 70s, with overnight temps in the mid-40s.

According to meteorologists, forecast models show wet weather arriving sometime next week.