Strong gusty winds buffeted the Banning and Beaumont areas Friday morning and were expected to pick up again at night and last through through Saturday, forecasters said.
"Strong surface high pressure building over the Great Basin will generate moderate to locally strong northeast to east winds over portions of southwest California through Saturday afternoon," according to the National Weather Service.
The agency scheduled a high wind warning for the valleys and mountains -- but not the Coachella Valley -- until 1 p.m., and a wind advisory for the same areas from 1 o'clock this afternoon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
A high wind warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. A wind advisory means that winds of 35 mph are expected.
The strongest winds were expected Friday morning and night through Saturday morning.
"Gusty winds will make travel difficult for high-profile vehicles, including along Interstate 15 through the Cajon Pass (and) Interstate 10 through the San Gorgonio Pass," a weather service advisory said.
The NWS forecast for Banning was:
- Friday afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 66. Windy, with a east wind 30 to 40 mph, with gusts as high as 65 mph.
- Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Windy, with a east wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a east wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
The NWS forecast for Beaumont was:
- Friday afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 69. Windy, with a east wind around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph.
- Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Windy, with a east wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.
- Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 68. Windy, with a east wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph.
- Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
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