RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Santa Ana winds will return to the Inland Empire
today for at least part of the day, with gusts up to 45 mph in the forecast.
According to the National Weather Service, the trough of low pressure
that swiped Southern California on Tuesday will make a speedy exit in the pre-
dawn hours Wednesday, replaced by a ridge of high pressure bearing down on the
Great Basin of Nevada and Utah.
“A brief round of Santa Ana winds will occur,” the NWS said. “An
overall weak to moderate (wind) event is expected, with gusts of 35-45 mph
occurring, generally below mountain passes and through wind-prone canyons. This
round of Santa Anas also induces a warming trend that will last through the end
of the week.”
No wind advisories have been posted yet.
Last week’s easterly winds pushed temperatures across the IE well into
the 70s. However, the mercury soon returned to below normal by the weekend,
as weather patterns shifted.
Highs in the Riverside metropolitan area will be in the upper 50s
Wednesday, with lows in the mid-30s, while the mercury will begin a grudging
climb Thursday and Friday, with daytime temps in the mid-60s and overnight lows
in the low 40s.
The temperature band is expected to be roughly the same in the
Coachella Valley. However, in the Temecula Valley, daytime highs will struggle
to top 60 from Wednesday to Friday, with lows in the upper 30s.
According to NWS prognostication charts, a trough of low pressure will
drag across the region, with a cold front ahead of it, Saturday and Sunday,
but precipitation is currently forecast to be minimal.
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