Red Flag Warning issued in parts of Riverside and Inland Empire

RIVERSIDE - A red flag warning denoting a high risk of wildfire was in effect for a second straight day today in mountain regions and metropolitan areas around Riverside.

The National Weather Service said the warning will expire at 5 p.m. Until then, dry, windy and warm conditions will heighten the risk of wildfire in the Inland Empire and in the mountains, according to the agency.

A red flag warning is the weather service's most serious fire-related warning. It is generally issued amid high winds, high heat and low humidity. A high of 90 degrees Fahrenheit is forecast in Riverside today.

The agency also issued a wind advisory for the Inland Empire and the mountains until noon, saying winds will be strongest from sunrise to mid- morning.

Sustained east winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour and widespread gusts of up to 45 miles per hour are expected today, and isolated gusts of up to 50 mph are possible through passes and canyons, according to the NWS.

''Conditions will improve somewhat by (tonight) as offshore flow weakens,'' the NWS said.

No warnings have been issued for the Coachella Valley.