Palm Desert Wind, Air Quality Advisories Over Halloween Week: NWS

PALM DESERT, CA—The desert communities will get a break from the summer-like heat this week with temperatures dropping as much as 20 degrees by next weekend. Still, the area is under advisories for wind and air quality on Monday and Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

The windblown dust advisory was issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District across the Coachella Valley and included Palm Desert, La Quinta, Palm Springs, Indio, and Cathedral City.

be in effect from 2 a.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday. According to the agency, wind gusts up to 51 mph are expected in the Coachella Valley.

Windblown dust in the region could cause Air Quality Index (AQI) levels to reach a designation of "unhealthy" or more severe, the South Coast AQMD said. People in areas affected by high levels of windblown dust or ash were advised to stay indoors with windows and doors closed and to avoid intense physical activity to limit exposure.

Residents staying indoors were advised to run air conditioning or an air purifier if available and to avoid using whole-house fans or swamp coolers, as these bring outside air inside.

To minimize dust pollution, people in affected areas are encouraged to stabilize loose soil outdoors and reduce speed when driving on dirt roads.
Air quality can be checked in real time on the South Coast AQMD app or at www.AQMD.gov at the bottom of the home page.

The Coachella Valley was expected to reach 86 on Monday, with wind gusts of up to 45 mph. On Tuesday, forecasters predicted a high of 76 and slower winds of 5 to 15 mph with gusts of up to 25 mph.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District also issued a windblown dust advisory for the Coachella Valley effective from 2 a.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Tuesday due to windblown dust is expected to cause the air quality index to reach unhealthy values.

The SCAQMD advised the public in the impacted areas to limit their exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical outdoor activities.

Sunday's temperatures reached a high of 93 in the Coachella Valley, and 95 in Palm Springs. Lows were expected to fall to 65 in the Coachella Valley, and 68 in Palm Springs. High temperatures should hover in the mid to high 80s the remainder of the week, the NWS said.

Forecasters said temperatures will reach the high 60s and low 70s on Monday and Tuesday, with winds between 10 to 15 mph and a 30% chance of precipitation in central Riverside and the Pass Area. The Temecula Valley would be slightly cooler, with temperatures in the mid-60s.

The Riverside metropolitan area and the Temecula Valley were expected to remain in the low 70s for the rest of the week, while the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs were expected to reach highs in the low 80s.

In Palm Desert, residents can expect:

Monday
Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 83. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.

Monday night
Patchy blowing dust before 11pm. Clear, with a low around 53. Windy, with a west wind 20 to 30 mph decreasing to 5 to 15 mph. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 75. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 54. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 76. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 55.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 79.

Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 55.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 78.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Saturday
A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

Saturday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Sunday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.