Temecula Valley Dust Storm Warning From NWS? Not For Us, Agency Says

TEMECULA, CA — If you were alerted Friday afternoon about a dust storm warning, you're not alone. However, most of us in Riverside County are not actually under the warning area, Patch is told.

The warning was sent out by the National Weather Service's Phoenix office — and includes a small portion of Riverside County. The easternmost part of the county, including Blythe, is indeed under a dust storm warning. However, the rest of the county can rest easy.

Patch is told that the way the warning system works is by county. So, when an alert contains part of the county — it will go out to everyone.

Here's the actual warning from the NWS:

...DUST STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST /5 PM PDT/ THIS
AFTERNOON...
...BLOWING DUST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST /8 PM
PDT/ THIS EVENING...

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a Dust Storm
Warning, which is in effect until 5 PM MST /5 PM PDT/ this
afternoon.

* AFFECTED AREA...Eastern Riverside County, the Colorado River
Valley, western portions of La Paz and northwestern portions of
Yuma County. Focus for travel along Interstate 10 from east of
Joshua Tree through Blythe, CA and into western Arizona.

* TIMING...Dust Storm Warning through 5 PM. Blowing Dust Advisory
continues through 8 PM for additional dust potential.

* WINDS...Gusts over 40 mph.

* VISIBILITY...Less than a quarter of mile.

* IMPACTS...Hazardous driving conditions from widespread blowing
dust reducing visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Be ready for a sudden drop in visibility. If you encounter
blowing dust or blowing sand on the roadway or see it
approaching, pull off the road as far as possible and put your
vehicle in park. Turn the lights all the way off and keep your
foot off the brake pedal.

Remember, pull aside, stay alive.

--

Patch photo by Renee Schiavone