WEATHER

Winds in Coachella Valley keep Indian Canyon, Gene Autry closed through Saturday

Keith W. Kohn
The Desert Sun

The two main access points to and from Palm Springs will remain closed through Saturday, city officials said.

North Indian Canyon Drive and Gene Autry Trail were closed Thursday due to blowing sand and dust and the city said Friday morning they won't reopen until Saturday evening at the soonest.

Winds Friday were expected to remain high, in the 20 mph to 30 mph range, according to the National Weather Service. Saturday, they're expected to calm to between 10 mph and 20 mph.

"The city hopes to begin cleanup and reopen the roads by the end of the day on Saturday, June 22, once the winds subside," city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell said in a news release. "Highway 111 along with Vista Chino at the wash remain open."

Blaisdell noted that the piles left by blowing sand, limited visibility and high winds caused of the closures.

Visibility across the valley may be reduced as a result, again thanks to blowing sand.

Indian Canyon Drive's closure has become common on windy days since the Feb. 14 storm dumped nearly 3.7 inches of rain in Palm Springs and left behind a lot of sand. 

Older and newer wind turbines produce energy on a windy day in February 2018. In the background is Mt. San Jacinto.

More:Wind gusts up to 50 mph expected Thursday in Coachella Valley, San Gorgonio Pass

More:Palm Springs reacts to 'cold' weather record

More:Photos: Blowing sand shuts down Indian Canyon in Palm Springs on May 8

Floodwaters from the San Jacinto Mountains brought silt into the Whitewater Wash and it impacts visibility when even the lightest winds pass through the area. The layer of sand is visible from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway's mountain station.

In recent months, sand has accumulated on Indian Canyon several times, even forming a 3-foot sand embankment.

The weather service issued a wind advisory for the Coachella Valley and surrounding mountain regions that was due to expire 9 p.m. Friday.

Even as the winds have picked up, temperatures were expected to remain moderate in the desert on Friday and Saturday.

Friday, the first day of summer, the weather service predicted a high of 97 degrees. Saturday's forecast was for 100 and by Monday temperatures will start to climb again with a high of 107.