Winds Howl As NWS Warns Of Worsening Conditions: SW RivCo

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Gusty Santa Ana winds picked up significantly Wednesday morning in Riverside County and may prove hazardous for high-profile vehicles traveling through mountain passes, including the Banning-Beaumont area, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency issued a high wind warning that remains in effect through 12 p.m. Friday in the Riverside metropolitan area, the county's valley areas, the Riverside County mountains and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.

Winds moving in from the north and northeast are expected to reach speeds between 20 and 30 mph, with isolated gusts of 70 mph possible along mountain ridge tops, forecasters said.

The winds are not expected to elevate the risk of wildfires because humidity levels are around average and brush in the region is not critically dry, according to the NWS.

NWS officials warned that winds could be strong enough to blow around unsecured objects and knock down tree limbs, potentially causing power outages.

Conditions will also be hazardous for high-profile vehicles traveling on highways, especially along I-15 and I-215 near the Cajon Pass and I-10 through the San Gorgonio Pass.

The winds are expected to peak Wednesday evening through early Thursday, forecasters said. Weaker winds will persist through Saturday.

High temperatures Wednesday could reach 70 degrees in Riverside, 73 in the San Gorgonio Pass, 77 in the Coachella Valley and 68 in Temecula and 70 in Hemet.

—City News Service contributed to this report.