Keeping an eye on air quality with gusts picking up this evening

It was a dusty start to the morning. Gusts and wind from Wednesday night into early Thursday morning continued to kick up sand and dust throughout the valley. Our Coachella Cam showing a hazy sky, partially covering the mountains.

Those elevated levels of particulate matter prompted the National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert that will remain in place until 6 a.m. Friday. This alert impacting all valley cities. Try to avoid time spent outdoors and drive slowly on dirt covered roads.

Winds calmed down into the morning hour and are projected to be mild into the midday. Come the afternoon however, they will pick up and be strongest throughout the evening. Some cities along the I-10 corridor like Indio and Thousand Palms are projected to see winds speeds between 25-30 mph.