High wind warnings for areas of Riverside County, issued by the National Weather Service, have been extended until 1 p.m. Sunday with northeast winds 25 to 35 mph and gusts of 40 to 60 mph expected.
Strong winds started blowing across the Inland Empire Thursday amid a shift in the jet stream that will dry out the region following the storms that ended 2025.
“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects,” said the NWS. “Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Riverside County Mountains, San Diego County Mountains, and San Gorgonio Pass near Banning are forecasted to feel the biggest brunt of this Santa Ana wind event.
Moderate to strong Santa Ana winds and a wind advisory are in effect for Riverside and San Bernardino counties from until at least 1 p.m. Saturday.
“Onshore westerly winds will be strong in the mountains and deserts, especially the desert slopes of the mountains,” the NWS said. “Gusts should reach 55 to 65 mph in the windiest spots.”
Forecasters expressed doubts about elevated wildfire risks during the Santa Anas.
“While these warm, dry and windy conditions will boost fire potential, relatively high vegetation moisture … will mitigate that threat,” according to the weather service.
The Riverside metropolitan area received well over an inch of rain from the Christmas and New Year’s storms, and in November, the area recorded 2.5 inches of precipitation — three times the average for that month in a given year, NWS data showed.
The “Santa Ana effect” described by forecasters will take hold over the weekend, boosting daytime highs into the 70s, though overnight temperatures will continue to drop into the low 40s.
In the Coachella Valley, highs will generally be in line with western Riverside County.