Another wave of Santa Ana winds arrive Saturday, likely generating gusts over 40 mph throughout the Inland Empire going into Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
“These winds will favor a more northerly direction,” the agency said in a statement. “Confidence is high that winds will gust over 45 mph in passes. Winds will peak Sunday morning, becoming more localized by the evening hours.”
A Fire Weather Watch is in effect from 6 p.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Forecasters said a trough of low pressure will plunge out of the Pacific Northwest and drag across the region this weekend, bumping into a ridge of high pressure settling over the Great Basin of Utah and Nevada, creating a “tight” pressure gradient that will produce the offshore flow.
Though the winds will abate heading into Sunday night, the NWS is anticipating another Santa Ana wind event forming Monday night into Tuesday morning, possibly carrying on into Wednesday, as high and low pressure systems compete.
“This will bring another round of elevated to near critical fire weather conditions as dry weather persists,” the Weather Service stated.
There was no estimate on expected wind speeds Monday.
Unlike Los Angeles County, the inland region was largely spared the devastating impacts of this week’s Santa Ana windstorm. A few small-scale fires have broken out, but firefighters have generally made quick work containing them.
Numerous IE communities have been warned of likely public safety power shutoffs, especially SoCal Edison customers. The city of Hemet released a statement Thursday advising residents to be prepared for them at any time.
“When extreme wind or other high-risk factors arise, power is temporarily shut off to reduce the risk of electrical equipment becoming an ignition source,” the city said.
High temperatures in the Riverside metropolitan area through the weekend are expected to peak in the mid 60s, with lows in the low 40s.
In the Coachella Valley, the highs are forecast to top out in the low 70s Saturday and Sunday, followed by overnight lows in the mid 40s, and in the Temecula Valley, the mercury will reach the upper 60s, dipping into the mid 30s at night.