High Winds, Fire Weather Forecast Across IE Through End Of October

BANNING, CA — The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for Riverside County, including areas near Lake Elsinore, Banning, and the Southwest Riverside County mountains with gusts expected to range from 50 to 65 mph Monday.

The high wind warning will be in effect until 10 p.m. Monday. Sustained northeast winds between 25 to 35 mph are expected in areas including downtown Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Idyllwild-Pine Cove and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.

"In areas directly impacted by high levels of windblown dust, limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical activity," the NWS advised.

Exposure to high-particle pollution levels can cause serious health problems including asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms and increased risk of respiratory infections, the weather service said.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a windblown dust advisory for the Coachella Valley and parts of the Inland Empire that went into effect Sunday morning and was expected to last at least until Tuesday morning.

Southern California Edison considered Public Safety Power Shutoffs on Sunday and into Monday due to the high winds, and said 27,077 customers in Riverside County could be affected.

Utilities can activate a Public Safety Power Shutoff during peak wind events, in which power is cut in areas being battered by heavy winds that could damage electrical lines or equipment and spark wildfires.

The Riverside County Fire Department reported power lines down near Van Buren Boulevard and 56th Street in Jurupa Valley on Sunday just before 1 p.m.

Van Buren Boulevard was closed between Limonite Avenue and Jurupa Road until 3:30 p.m., when SCE mitigated the hazard and firefighters cleared the scene.

Authorities said the road was reopened, but may be closed intermittently as needed while repairs were made.

A tree fire was also reported on Sunday around noon in the 8300 block of Basswood Avenue in Riverside, according to the Riverside Fire Department.

Firefighters found the wind-driven fire behind the houses on Basswood Avenue, and were able to contain the fire to the backyards of four residences.

According to the Riverside FD, two outbuildings were damaged by the fire, and the high winds caused an energized power line to fail. Surrounding vegetation also caught fire, but there were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

Another tree fire was reported near the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Copperlantern Drive on Sunday around 1 p.m.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a palm tree on fire next to high voltage transmission lines arcing with numerous plants and shrubbery on fire around a BF Goodrich location.

Riverside Public Utilities was requested for immediate assistance to shut down power lines.

According to firefighters, embers of a fire on a palm tree ignited a trash bin fire. The roof of a nearby building also caught fire, and the incident was upgraded to a first-alarm structure fire.

Firefighters extinguished the wind-driven fire around 2 p.m. Sunday, and there were no injuries reported.