Wind advisory issued for Inland Empire this morning

RIVERSIDE - Strong gusty northeast winds were expected in the Riverside metropolitan area this morning.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the Inland Empire until noon, saying sustained winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour and gusts up to 45 mph were likely.

''The winds will make driving difficult, especially for motorists with high profile vehicles,'' the NWS advisory said. ''Watch for broken tree limbs and other debris.''

Unseasonably warm temperatures expected

Riverside - An upper level ridge of high pressure and a weak offshore flow will combine to bring unseasonably warm temperatures to Riverside County this weekend, with highs in the metropolitan area topping out in the 90s by Sunday, meteorologists said today.

''The most noticeable warm up will occur from the mountains westward, where daily temperatures over the weekend will run 12 to 20 degrees above normal,'' according to the National Weather Service.

Highs today are expected to range from 73 to 78 degrees in the Inland Empire, 55 to 70 in the mountains and 85 to 87 in the Coachella Valley.

On Saturday, the forecast calls for highs of 80 to 88 degrees in the Inland Empire, 59 to 74 in the mountains and 87 to 89 in the Coachella Valley.

By Sunday, it'll be 85 to 90 degrees in the Inland Empire, 61 to 79 in the mountains and 86 to 88 in the Coachella Valley, the NWS said.