FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REGIONS AFFECTED: The High Desert, Coachella Valley, San Diego County Mountains and Deserts, Imperial County, and Las Vegas
DATELINE: SUKABUMI, INDONESIA – A potent late-week weather system is set to unleash powerful and potentially hazardous winds across a wide swath of the Desert Southwest, including Southern California’s High Desert, the Coachella Valley, the San Diego to Imperial County desert corridor, and the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a series of wind advisories and a high wind warning, effective from Friday afternoon through Saturday, cautioning residents and travelers of strong gusts capable of creating difficult travel conditions and elevating fire weather concerns.
A low-pressure system dropping into the western United States is the catalyst for this significant wind event. As this system interacts with the regional topography, it will generate strong westerly to southwesterly winds, with gusts expected to be a significant concern.
High Desert and Coachella Valley to Bear the Brunt of Strongest Winds
The High Desert, particularly the Mojave Desert slopes, is under a High Wind Warning from 5 PM Friday through Saturday. Forecasters at the NWS office in Hanford are predicting sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts potentially reaching up to 60 mph. These powerful winds will create hazardous driving conditions, especially for high-profile vehicles, and could lead to localized power outages.
In the Coachella Valley, winds are expected to ramp up Friday afternoon, with the NWS San Diego office forecasting west winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. The winds are predicted to intensify Friday night, with gusts potentially reaching 35 mph. These conditions will likely lead to blowing sand and dust, reducing visibility on area roadways.
San Diego County Mountains and Deserts on Alert
The mountains and deserts of San Diego County are under a Wind Advisory. The NWS San Diego is forecasting west winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph on Friday afternoon, persisting into Friday night. Travelers through the mountainous terrain and along desert highways should be prepared for strong crosswinds.
For the Imperial County deserts, windy conditions are also expected, with west winds of around 20-25 mph anticipated on Saturday, which could create challenging driving conditions.
Las Vegas Area Faces “Windy” Friday and Saturday with Elevated Fire Danger
The NWS in Las Vegas has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of southern Nevada and northwest Arizona from Friday morning through Friday evening due to the combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry fuels. The forecast for the Las Vegas Valley calls for a “windy” Friday and Saturday. South winds of 10 to 15 mph on Friday morning are expected to increase to southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts around 30 mph in the afternoon. The windy conditions will persist into Saturday with southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph. These strong winds will not only make for a blustery weekend but also significantly increase the risk of rapid fire spread.
Potential Impacts and Safety Precautions
Residents in the affected areas are advised to secure loose outdoor furniture and decorations that could become airborne. Motorists, especially those in high-profile vehicles, should exercise extreme caution and consider delaying travel through wind-prone areas if possible. The strong winds may also lead to downed tree limbs and power lines.
The elevated fire weather conditions, particularly in the Las Vegas area and the High Desert, call for increased vigilance. Residents should avoid any activities that could spark a fire.
This strong wind event is expected to gradually subside by Sunday as the low-pressure system moves eastward. For the latest updates and specific advisories for your area, please monitor your local National Weather Service forecasts.
