Palm Springs Braces for Gusty Winds, Dry Air This Week

NBC Palm Springs forecasts a shift in weather patterns bringing changes to the Coachella Valley

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:08pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting the Coachella Valley shrouded in a hazy, golden light and dwarfed by towering, ominous storm clouds, conveying the overwhelming power of the impending weather changes.As a powerful weather system approaches the Coachella Valley, the region braces for a dramatic shift in wind and humidity that could impact local businesses and outdoor activities.Palm Springs Today

The Coachella Valley will see clear skies and slightly above-normal temperatures today, but a shift in weather patterns is expected to bring gusty winds and extremely dry air to the region starting Thursday and continuing into the weekend.

Why it matters

Gusty winds and low humidity can increase the risk of wildfires and make outdoor activities more challenging in the Palm Springs area. The weather changes are also likely to impact local businesses and events in the tourism-dependent Coachella Valley.

The details

A trough of low pressure moving through the Southwest will cause on-shore winds to ramp up Thursday afternoon and evening. As the frontal boundary exits the area on Friday, Santa Ana winds will become gusty, especially around Desert Hot Springs and the foothill communities. The Valley will also experience extremely dry air on Friday, with middle-of-the-day dew points falling to around 0 degrees.

  • Gusty winds expected late-Thursday into early-Friday
  • Extremely dry air forecast for Friday

The players

Jerry Steffen

A meteorologist at NBC Palm Springs who provided the weather forecast details.

NBC Palm Springs

The local NBC news station covering the Coachella Valley weather forecast.

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What they’re saying

“Sunny and mild today with gusty winds expected in some areas late-Thursday into early-Friday... click here for details.”

— NBC Palm Springs

The takeaway

Residents and visitors in the Palm Springs area should be prepared for potentially hazardous wind and dry conditions later this week, which could impact outdoor activities and increase wildfire risk.