High winds will blow across the Southland this afternoon, including Long Beach, forecasters said.

A wind advisory is in force in the Antelope Valley until 10:00PM Friday, with sustained winds of between 25 and 35 miles per hour expected during that time, along with gusts of 50 mph and up to 60 mph in the foothills, according to the National Weather Service.

The strongest winds are expected across the western portions of the Antelope Valley late this afternoon and early this evening, it said.

Forecasters warned that gusty winds would make driving difficult, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles, and blowing dust would reduce visibility to a quarter-mile or less. The Antelope Valley (14) Freeway and Pearblossom (138) Highway will be affected by those conditions, they said.

Strong winds are expected this afternoon and tonight even where no advisory is in effect, including 15-mph winds in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys and metropolitan Los Angeles, between 15 and 25 mph in the Santa Clarita Valley and the San Gabriel Mountains, and between 10 and 20 mph in the Santa Monica mountains, according to the NWS. In coastal and inland Orange counties, 15 mph winds are expected, along with 25 mph gusts.

Also in the forecast is drizzle after midnight in several portions of Los Angeles County and showers in Orange County.

The NWS forecast mostly cloudy skies in L.A. County today, along with highs of 60 on Mount Wilson; 65 in Avalon; 66 in Long Beach; 67 in San Gabriel and at LAX; 69 in Downtown L-A and Burbank; 70 in Pasadena; 72 in Woodland Hills; and 77 in Palmdale and Lancaster.

Mostly cloudy skies were also forecast in Orange County along with highs of 63 in San Clemente; 64 in Laguna Beach; 65 in Newport Beach; 68 in Anaheim and Mission Viejo; 69 in Fullerton and Irvine; and 70 in Yorba Linda.

Similar conditions are expected over the next several days.