Lows in the 40s, Strong Winds To Whip Through Lake Elsinore: Area Forecast

Widespread northeast winds will persist Monday in Riverside County, with gusts up to 40 mph predicted in the Lake Elsinore area. And come Monday night, it's expected to dip down to 43 degrees.

A National Weather Service wind advisory for the valleys around Riverside, the mountains and the San Gorgonio Pass zone, which includes the cities of Banning and Desert Hot Springs, is set to remain in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday. Lake Elsinore is also included in that advisory.

Winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour and gusts of up to 50 mph are expected in the valleys. The winds will be stronger in the mountains and along the San Gorgonio Pass, 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 45 to 60 mph, according to the NWS.

Here's the forecast for Lake Elsinore for the next couple days, via the National Weather Service:

Today
Sunny, with a high near 66. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.

Tonight
Clear, with a low around 43. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 72. North wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 42. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 73. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

The Coachella Valley was not included under Monday's wind advisory, but winds of 15 mph and gusts to 25 mph are in the forecast.

"Surface high pressure over the Great Basin will bring periods of gusty northeast winds near and below the coastal slopes of the mountains and below mountain passes and canyons into Tuesday morning," according to the weather service.

Forecasters warned that the strong winds may making driving difficult, especially for motorists in high-profile vehicles.

"The winds should remain mostly at a nuisance level, with localized gusts in the 40-50 mph range bringing cross winds to a few local highways/interstates," according to the weather service.

– Patch file photo / City News Service contributed to this report