Strong, gusty winds to hit areas of Riverside County Thursday night

Several days worth of strong, gusty winds were in store for the Coachella Valley and the mountains of Riverside County starting late Thursday night, meteorologists said.

“A pair of strong shortwave troughs will move southeast across the western states between Friday and Sunday,” according to the National Weather Service. “The first disturbance will create gusty westerly winds across portions of the mountains and adjacent desert slopes tonight through Friday morning.”

The agency said winds would slightly diminish Friday afternoon through Friday evening before the second disturbance creates gusty west-to-southwest winds Friday night through Sunday morning.

A wind advisory was scheduled from 10 tonight to 7 a.m. Sunday. In issuing the advisory, the NWS said sustained winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and widespread gusts up to 45 mph were likely. Also, localized gusts of 50 to 55 mph were possible, mainly in desert slopes.

“Winds will make driving difficult, especially for motorists with high profile vehicles,” the NWS advisory said. “Watch for broken tree limbs, (and) reduced visibility at times on roadways from blowing dust and sand.”