Southwest RivCo Heatwave Precedes Gusting Winds, Coming Rain In March

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Shifting weather patterns Tuesday will produce a taste of summer, along with stiff Santa Ana winds, followed by a cooling trend and the possibility of rain throughout the Inland Empire this week and weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency said a bundle of high-pressure ridges sliding across the Great Basin of Nevada and Utah will push up temperatures — possibly matching or breaking a few records -- by the middle of the week.

The surging mercury will coincide with a wind event, generating "gusty Santa Ana winds ... as early as Wednesday evening, peaking Thursday afternoon," the NWS said in a statement.

According to the Weather Service, the northeasterly winds are expected to exceed 40 mph in mountains and passes, including the San Gorgonio Pass.

"Elevated fire weather conditions will be possible both days, but especially Thursday when Santa Ana winds peak," the agency stated.

Forecasters said that temperatures in the Riverside metropolitan area on Wednesday and Thursday will spike into the upper 80s. Similar conditions are expected in the Coachella Valley.

"The increase of northeasterly winds on Thursday may push temperatures higher than currently forecast, with highs potentially rising to match the record-breaking temperatures expected Wednesday," the NWS said.

On the heels of the sizzle will be a cool-down, beginning Saturday, as a trough of low pressure dropping down from the Gulf of Alaska tracks across most of California, raising the possibility of light rain in the region, meteorologists said.

"At this point, conditions favor precipitation late weekend into early next week, but given that models aren't aligned on the upper-level pattern, we can expect significant changes (to forecasts) in the coming days," the NWS stated.

Rainfall amounts are not likely to be significant unless the "deepening trough" pushes farther south, according to the Weather Service.

For Riverside metro on Saturday and Sunday, the highs will peak in the upper 60s, dropping into the upper 40s during the overnight hours. The weekend temps in the Coachella Valley will see highs around 80 and lows in the mid-50s.

For the Temecula Valley, the temperature band will be virtually identical to the Riverside area. In Southwest Riverside County, the National Weather Forecast is as follows.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 82. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday night
Clear, with a low of around 48. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. East wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday Night
Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Friday
Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 68.

Friday Night
A slight chance of showers after 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.

Saturday Night
A slight chance of showers after 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Sunday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.

Sunday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Monday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.