Strong winds expected in Coachella Valley this weekend, with snow in the mountains

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Strong winds expected in Coachella Valley this weekend, with snow in the mountains

Strong winds are in store for parts of the Coachella Valley this weekend, while the nearby mountains around Idyllwild could see some rain and snow.

A wind advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for the San Gorgonia Pass area near Banning and Desert Hot Springs, with forecasted winds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts expected to reach 55 to 65 mph. The advisory is in effect from 10 a.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Monday.

“There will be a brief break in winds late Saturday night into Sunday morning before picking up again Sunday afternoon,” the National Weather Service said in its advisory. “Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.”

Palm Springs could also see gusts as high as 40 mph Saturday, with areas of blowing dust after 1 p.m., according to the weather service. Otherwise, the weather will remain mild, with forecasted highs near 80 degrees Saturday and 74 on Sunday, though there’s a slight chance of rain in Palm Springs on Sunday night into Monday.

The windy conditions expected in the valley prompted the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue a windblow dust advisory in the area, effective from 4 a.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday. PM10 levels are predicted to be particularly bad Saturday night into Sunday morning, potentially ranging from “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” to “Very Unhealthy” levels.

Meanwhile, the weather could be a bit more turbulent nearby in the San Jacinto Mountains. A wind advisory has been issued from Saturday morning to Sunday morning for the Idyllwild-Pine Cove area, with gusts expected to reach 50 to 60 mph. The strongest winds will be on the desert slopes of the mountains, according to the weather service.

The mountains could also see some snow heading into next week, with a winter weather advisory issued for Idyllwild, Big Bear City, Lake Arrowhead and other mountain communities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties from 10 a.m. Sunday to 4 p.m. Monday. Snow totals could range from 1 inch at lower elevations to 3 to 5 inches at areas above 5,500 feet.

The Idyllwild area could see some rain before the snowfall, with a slight chance of rain in the forecast Saturday. The odds of precipitation jump to 60% on Sunday night in Idyllwild, and there could be more snow on Monday.

“Plan on slippery road conditions,” the National Weather Service said in its winter weather advisory. “The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning commute.”

Tom Coulter is a reporter for The Desert Sun. Reach him at *****@*****.tld.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun:

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