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Wind Advisory Issued For San Joaquin Valley

Valley residents may need to hold onto their hats Tuesday; the National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the East Central San Joaquin Valley.

The advisory cautions wind speeds of up to 20-30 mph, with gusts of up to 50 mph. The advisory has been issued from 11 a.m. to midnight.

A dust advisory has also been issued for the East Central San Joaquin Valley. Dust speeds could hit 20-30 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph.

 The wind and dust contributed to downed power lines, traffic hazards and delays Tuesday morning. A traffic advisory was issued east of Firebaugh after a crash which involved a big rig. CHP officers warn of low visibility in rural areas like western Madera County due to the dust and winds.

Officers offer these tips to drivers stuck in low visibility areas:

• Reduce speed
• Increase their following distance
• Turn on headlights

Tuesday's winds also caused headaches for farmers, threatening almond trees, which are prone to knock over.

The gusty winds ultimatly prompted Valley Air officials to issue a health warning for Kings, Tulare, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, and Fresno counties.  "Take precautions to protect your health if you are in an area of blowing dust," said Scott Nester, Planning Director for the Air District.

The winds have caused an increase in particulate matter, which can cause serious health problems, especially for those with pre-existing conditions like respiratory and heart problems.

 Air officials say people with heart or lung diseases along with older adults and children should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion.

 Stay with KMPH and KMPH.com as we continue to follow this story.