Strong gusty winds were expected to continue to sweep through parts of Riverside County Sunday, kicking up sand and potentially damaging trees and power lines, the National Weather Service said.
A high wind warning was in effect through 2 a.m. Monday in the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, as well as mountain and desert areas, including the cities of Indio, Palm Springs and Cathedral City.
The westerly winds were forecast to be between 25 to 35 mph with gusts in excess of 75 mph in the most wind-prone areas, according to the NWS.
Travel may be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles, due to possible blowing sand in the desert and strong crosswinds, forecasters warned.
In Palm Springs, two roads were temporarily closed Sunday due to sand buildup and poor visibility. Indian Canyon Drive was shut down from Sunrise Parkway to Garnet Avenue and Gene Autry Trail was shut down between Salvia Road and East Via Escuela.
Sunday’s highs were expected to be 92 degrees in Thermal, 88 degrees in Palm Springs, 74 degrees in Riverside, 72 degrees in Hemet and 72 degrees in Lake Elsinore, the NWS said.
Cool and windy weather was predicted to continue through Wednesday as another low pressure area drops south over California. The weather could heat up noticeably during the latter half of the week as high pressure rebuilds over the Southwest.
Forecasters expect hot days to return inland by next weekend.