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Crime & Safety

Red Flag Warning Remains in Effect, But Coachella Valley Exempt

During the red flag period winds up to 30-miles-per-hour are expected along with 50-mph gusts and single digit humidity levels.

A red flag warning signifying wildfire conditions remained in force today in the mountains and valleys of Riverside County, though not the Coachella Valley.

Over the red flag period, which is due to expire at 6 p.m. Friday, 30- mile-per-hour northeast winds are expected along with 50-mph gusts while the humidity level falls to about around 5 percent and temperatures again climb into the 80s and 90s, the National Weather Service reported.

"A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential," according to an NWS advisory.

A high wind warning was also issued for the Coachella Valley, along with the mountains and valleys of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The NWS warned that the winds could make for difficult driving conditions on Interstates 10 and 15 and could damage trees, power lines and traffic signals.

Winds of up to 45 mph are possible and gusts could top 60 mph in the northern Coachella Valley, from Banning Pass east to Desert Hot Springs, and in the eastern Coachella Valley, between Interstate 10 and the Little San Bernardino Mountains, NWS forecasters said. The wind warning will expire at 2 p.m. today for the Coachella Valley and at 6 p.m. elsewhere in the affected area.

The winds are expected to weaken tonight, but another bout of moderate to strong east winds will follow and stick around into Friday morning, forecasters said. The winds will again combine with hot, dry conditions and elevate the risk of wildfires.

Winds are expected to weaken Friday night, and moisture to increase Saturday. The possibility of rain and thunderstorms will follow from Sunday night into Monday, the weather service said.

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