Weather Watch: Dust from High Winds Expected to Reduce Road Visibility

For Monday updates on wind and weather in the Coachella Valley see:

Tram Closed Due to Gusting Winds

Top Wind Gusts - Up to 85 MPH - Include Locations Near Coachella Valley

Strong westerly winds were expected to blow through Riverside County mountains and the Coachella Valley tonight and Monday, then diminish by Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service reported.

And a winter weather advisory was issued for inland elevations above 5,500 feet, starting at 5 a.m. Monday. Snow will start falling in the morning above the 7,000-foot contour, lowering to 5,500 feet by the end of the day.

About 4-7 inches of snow may accumulate, with mountains above 7,000 feet seeing as much as 10 inches, the NWS predicted.

That measn a white Monday is likely for Idyllwild and Pine Cove, as well as the San bernardino County resort areas.

A low pressure system moving southward down the Pacific Coast will create a strong onshore flow starting at 10 p.m. tonight and die out by 8 a.m. Tuesday, meteorologist Brett Albright said.

The strongest lowland winds will be felt in the Coachella Valley, and in the mountains, Albright said.

Westerly winds of 20-30 mph, with gusts reaching up to 55 mph, were forecast. Visibility in the deserts will be reduced by dust, which could prove hazardous for drivers, the NWS reported.

Motorists were urged to keep an eye out for fallen tree branches, according to the NWS.

—City News Service