A wind advisory for much of Riverside County has been extended to at least 2 p.m. Monday as Santa Ana winds coninue to sweep across much of Southern California.
The National Weather Service warning was initially scheduled to expire Sunday afternoon.
Northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph were expected in the cities of Moreno Valley, Riverside, Corona, Temecula and Hemet.
Strong winds started blowing across the Inland Empire on Thursday amid a shift in the jet stream that will dry out the region following the storms that ended 2025, according to the National Weather Service.
“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects,” the NWS said. “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.”
Forecasters also predicted the arrival of warmer temperatures, peaking around the middle of next week. Sunday highs were expected to be 67 to 73 in the Inland Empire and valleys and 51 to 61 in the mountains, according to the NWS..
Forecasters expressed doubts about elevated wildfire risks amid the ongoing Santa Ana winds.
“While these warm, dry and windy conditions will boost fire potential, relatively high vegetation moisture … will mitigate that threat,” weather service forecasters said.