As thousands of fans descend upon the Empire Polo Club in Indio this weekend for Coachella, Mother Nature might have other plans. As anticipation builds for the likes of Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Karol G & more fans might be in for an adventure. As South Coast Air Quality Management district says, windy conditions could reduce air quality to unhealthy levels in the Coachella Valley starting the afternoon of Thursday, April 9, and lasting through Friday. “Rain gear could come in handy this weekend,” AccuWeather Meteorologist -Gwendolyn Fieweger The National Weather Service is forecasting winds of 5 to 15 mph and gusts of up to 25 mph starting Thursday afternoon and continuing through Saturday, with the winds expected to taper off Saturday night. The advisory states that those in dusty areas should take steps to limit their exposure, including staying indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical activity. This is not good news for festival goers however, the South Coast AQMD maintains an interactive online map showing the air quality in the Coachella Valley and other areas under its jurisdiction so that you can stay safe. The map is updated hourly and can be accessed at aqmd.gov. Festivalgoers eyeing the second weekend have reason for optimism. The long-range forecast for April 17-19 calls for drier conditions with sunshine.Coachella Weekend 1 Faces Rain and Dust Storm Threats
