A wind advisory and air quality alert were in effect Saturday in most parts of Riverside County.
The wind advisory was effective until 5 p.m. Sunday in the areas of Moreno Valley, Corona, Riverside, Temecula and Hemet, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Winds of 25 to 35 mph where expected in the western area of Riverside County with gusts as high as 65 mph in some areas.
The air quality alert was in effect until at least 6 p.m. Sunday in the areas of Moreno Valley, Corona, Riverside, Temecula, Hemet, Cathedral City, Coachella, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Idyllwild-Pine Cove and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.
It was issued due to harmful levels of particle pollution from windblown dust.
Temperatures reached the mid-70s Saturday in downtown Riverside and Temecula while Hemet was expected to reach 71. The Coachella Valley experienced highs in the 80s while Palm Springs was expected to reach 77.
Sunday’s temperatures were expected to shoot up, with Riverside expected to reach 84, Temecula 83, Hemet 80, Coachella Valley 89 and Palm Springs 86, according to the National Weather Service.
A slight chance of showers was expected on Monday in the low deserts, inland valleys and southern portions of the Riverside County mountains, according to forecasters, but rainfall totals were unlikely to exceed a tenth of an inch.
“For Wednesday through the end of the week a ridge of high pressure building over the West Coast will bring a return of unseasonably warm weather,” the NWS said.
Warm temperatures were expected to continue through Thursday and Friday with daytime highs reaching the low 90s in the inland valleys, the 70s in the mountains, the low 80s in the high deserts and the upper 90s in the low deserts.