Update 4:53 p.m. A fire weather watch for Palm Desert, the Coachella Valley and the surrounding mountains has been upgraded to a red flag warning for dangerously dry, windy conditions from 8 p.m. Thursday to 2 p.m. Saturday.
"A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now . . . or will shortly," the National Weather Service advised Wednesday afternoon.
"A combination of strong winds . . . low relative humidity . . . and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential."
Update 2:03 p.m. A high wind watch for Palm Desert, the Coachella Valley and the surrounding mountains has been upgraded to a high wind warning for Thursday evening through late Friday.
"Wind gusts through favored canyons and passes may exceed 65 miles per hour at time," the National Weather Service advised just after 1 p.m. Oct. 24. "The winds will gradually weaken Saturday morning through Sunday."
Posted 1:18 p.m. A high wind watch and a fire weather watch have been issued for Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley, from Thursday evening through late Friday.
"Building surface pressure over the Great Basin will generate strong, gusty northeast to east winds" Thursday evening through Friday night, the National Weather Service advised.
Sustained winds of 35 miles per hour are expected, and gusting winds in vulnerable areas may exceed 60 mph at times, according to the Weather Service. The winds are expected to weaken Saturday morning through Sunday.
Watch areas include the San Gorgonio Pass, the mountains on both sides of the Pass, and the Coachella Valley.
Strong winds with blowing dust and sand may make driving difficult in some areas, according to the Weather Service.
The fire weather watch is for the same time period due to strong winds and single-digit humidity levels by Friday afternoon.
"Humidity will fall unto the upper single digits to mid teens Friday afternoon with poor overnight recovery," the Weather Service advised. "Very dry conditions will continue through the weekend."
The fire weather watch area includes ranger districts of the San Bernardino National Forest and the Coachella Valley.
"A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur," the Weather Service advised. "Listen for later forecasts and possible red flag warnings."
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