Strong Santa Ana winds will lash the Inland Empire through most of the weekend, as high-pressure systems parked to the east influence regional weather, forecasters said Friday.
“Northeast winds are expected to strengthen into Saturday, shifting to more of an easterly component into Sunday,” according to a National Weather Service statement. “Peak gusts (Friday night) into Saturday will be 40 to 50 mph, with isolated gusts to 65 mph.”
A Wind Advisory will be in effect from 1 a.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The most intense activity will be in wind-prone locations, especially the San Gorgonio Pass, impacting Banning, Beaumont, Cabazon and Whitewater, according to the Weather Service.
Charts published by the NWS showed several high-pressure ridges settling over the Great Basin in Nevada and Utah, driving wind patterns across Southern California.
“Winds will be strongest on Saturday, gradually weakening and becoming more localized into Sunday afternoon,” the agency said.
The winds coming off the deserts will dry out the area and boost the mercury.
The Riverside metropolitan area’s highs on Saturday and Sunday will peak near 80 degrees, with overnight temperatures in the low 50s.
In the Coachella Valley, the temperature band will be virtually the same, though daytime highs could top 80 in some spots, the NWS said.
In the Temecula Valley, highs through the weekend will hover in the mid-70s, with lows in the upper 40s.
Forecasters said that trends will shift going into the latter part of next week, with a return of widespread rain.