By Reginald Stanley. Posted December 26, 2015, 4:00 PM.

Strong offshore flow, due in part to a high pressure system over the Great Basin, is fanning excessive dry winds over the region Saturday, resulting in poor air quality and power outages.

Humidities across the region began dropping rapidly Friday afternoon, and offshore winds kicked up, continuing overnight. Many of the inland valleys have experiencing sustained winds between 15mph and 25mph since Friday evening. The National Weather Service issued High Wind Warnings for large portions of Southern California, lasting through the early morning hours of Sunday.

As of 4 PM Saturday, the highest gust in the WeatherCurrents network was 40mph reported in Simi Valley, followed closely by the wind-prone Anza station to the east, with 38mph reported there. WeatherCurrents stations in Riverside, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Moreno Valley and Perris all recorded gusts in excess of 30mph since Friday. Gusts just under 30mph were also recorded in San Bernardino, Wildomar, Murrieta, Temecula, French Valley, and Fallbrook.

The gusty conditions were expected to cease Sunday morning.