Murrieta Weather: Strong Winds, Lows in the 40s Expected This Week

Gusty winds will whip across most of Riverside County Monday as a low pressure system moves through the region. Murrieta residents can expect Monday to be the coolest day of the week, with it warming up to 85 degrees by Wednesday. (Scroll for full weekly forecast below.)

A National Weather Service wind advisory will remain in effect until 2 p.m. Tuesday for the mountains and the San Gorgonio Pass zone, which includes the cities of Banning and Desert Hot Springs, but not the greater Coachella Valley. A similar wind advisory for the city of Riverside and the surrounding valleys will extend from 10 p.m. Monday until 2 p.m. Tuesday.

"A low pressure system moving inland through Southern California early this morning will bring stronger onshore flow with strong gusty west winds in the mountains and deserts into early evening," according to the weather service. "This will be followed by strong gusty north winds late tonight into Tuesday as the low pressure system moves into Arizona."

In the mountains and along the San Gorgonio Pass, west winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and gusts of up to 55 mph are in the forecast through early evening. The winds will then ramp up to 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 55 to 65 mph and turn northward overnight into Tuesday.

Winds speeds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts of about 50 mph are expected in the valleys around Riverside late Monday evening through Tuesday morning. Forecasters said the winds would die down Tuesday afternoon.
The gusty winds could lead to difficulty driving on Interstates 10 and 15 and on state Routes 62, 74 and 111, especially for motorists in high-profile vehicles. The wind may also down tree limbs and blow around debris, according to the NWS.

As we head in to the work week, here's what you can expect in Murrieta through Friday, according to the National Weather Service:

Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 45. South wind 10 to 15 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 85. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 49.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 80.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 46.

– City News Service contributed to this report / Patch file photo