Red Flag Warning Extended To Wednesday As Temps Reach Triple Digits

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- A Red Flag Warning issued by The National Weather Service for parts of the Riverside County was extended into Wednesday, as Santa Ana winds began to rake the Inland Empire Sunday.

The warning will now be in effect through 6 p.m. Wednesday amid forecasts of hot, dry and windy weather in the valleys, mountains and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.

The combination of extreme heat, low humidity and Santa Ana winds will create an increased threat of wildfire ignition and large fire growth, the NWS said.

Wind gusts peaked between 30 to 40 mph Sunday morning at the windiest locations, according to the agency.

At 3:20 p.m., the NWS reported winds were blowing at 14 mph in Riverside, 13 mph at the Corona Municipal Airport and 30 mph in Banning.

Monday and Tuesday are forecast to have the most severe Red Flag conditions, with humidity around 5 percent and gusts of up to 60 mph in some areas, the NWS said.

The agency also issued an excessive heat warning from 10 a.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with temperatures expected to soar well into the triple digits.

A wind advisory will also be in force beginning at midnight Sunday through 2 p.m. Wednesday for Riverside city and Corona.

Winds will begin to die down by Wednesday, but due to the abundance of dry fuels in the region, the NWS extended the Red Flag Warning by 24 hours.

Higher humidity, lower temperatures and lighter winds are expected by Thursday, according to the NWS, though temperatures will remain above average for this time of year.

--City News Service/Photo by Shutterstock