The surging mercury will generate "gusty Santa Ana winds" in some areas of RivCo, with a chance of rain forecasted starting this weekend.
COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — Shifting weather patterns Tuesday will produce a taste of summer, along with stiff Santa Ana winds, followed by a cooling trend and the possibility of rain throughout the Inland Empire this week and weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
The agency said a bundle of high-pressure ridges sliding across the Great Basin of Nevada and Utah will push up temperatures — possibly matching or breaking a few records -- by the middle of the week.
The surging mercury will coincide with a wind event, generating "gusty Santa Ana winds ... as early as Wednesday evening, peaking Thursday afternoon," the NWS said in a statement.
According to the Weather Service, the northeasterly winds are expected to exceed 40 mph in mountains and passes, including the San Gorgonio Pass.
"Elevated fire weather conditions will be possible both days, but especially Thursday when Santa Ana winds peak," the agency stated.
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Forecasters said that temperatures in the Riverside metropolitan area on Wednesday and Thursday will spike into the upper 80s. Similar conditions are expected in the Coachella Valley.
"The increase of northeasterly winds on Thursday may push temperatures higher than currently forecast, with highs potentially rising to match the record-breaking temperatures expected Wednesday," the NWS said.
On the heels of the sizzle will be a cool-down, beginning Saturday, as a trough of low pressure dropping down from the Gulf of Alaska tracks across most of California, raising the possibility of light rain in the region, meteorologists said.
"At this point, conditions favor precipitation late weekend into early next week, but given that models aren't aligned on the upper-level pattern, we can expect significant changes (to forecasts) in the coming days," the NWS stated.
Rainfall amounts are not likely to be significant unless the "deepening trough" pushes farther south, according to the Weather Service.
For Riverside metro on Saturday and Sunday, the highs will peak in the upper 60s, dropping into the upper 40s during the overnight hours. The weekend temps in the Coachella Valley will see highs around 80 and lows in the mid-50s.
For the Coachella Valley, the National Weather Forecast is as follows.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday night Mostly clear, with a low around 63. West wind around 5 mph.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 92. West wind around 5 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 65. West wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the morning.
Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 80.
Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 56.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 82.
Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
Sunday A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Sunday Night A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Monday A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.