50 MPH WINDS, WITH GUSTS HIGHER, HIT AV AREA.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

LANCASTER -- Wind gusts topped 50 mph Friday in the Antelope Valley, and forecasters predicted continued wind today.

Wind gusts were measured at 52 mph Friday afternoon at Lake Palmdale and at 49 mph at Fox Field in Lancaster, the National Weather Service said. Gusts were clocked at 46 mph in Mojave and 30 mph at Edwards Air Force Base.

The wind kicked up dust enough to reduce visibility at the Lancaster airport in early afternoon to a quarter-mile, compared to 45 miles from Edwards, officials said.

The California Highway Patrol issued a weather advisory at midafternoon Friday recommending that campers, trailers and big rigs avoid the Antelope Valley, said CHP Officer Dave Porter in the Los Angeles Traffic Management Center.

Officials said they received no reports of damage from wind.

The National Weather Service forecast winds in the Antelope Valley this afternoon and evening of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts even stronger. Today's high temperature is expected to be about 69 degrees.

Winds are expected to slacken Sunday, when the afternoon temperature is expected to be about 76 degrees.

Memorial Day's high temperature is expected to reach about 82 degrees.

Friday's wind was produced by high atmospheric pressure over the Pacific Ocean and low pressure over the Great Basin, which make air move through Soledad Pass and Tehachapi Pass into the Antelope Valley.