High winds delay opening of Coachella festival camping
INDIO, Calif. — Gusty winds swept the mountains and deserts of Southern California on Thursday, forcing managers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to close campgrounds where thousands of fans were heading for the annual event’s second weekend.
“The National Weather Service has issued a severe high wind warning beginning Thursday morning lasting through early morning Friday,” the festival tweeted. “Opening of camping is delayed.”
The campgrounds were rescheduled to open at 3 a.m. Friday, an hour after the weather service warning was set to expire. The festival noted that the timing was still dependent on safety conditions. Campgrounds normally open a day ahead of the festival, which runs Friday through Sunday for two consecutive weekends each spring.
Festivalgoers diverted to store parking lots in Indio, the Riverside County desert community 130 miles (209 kilometres) east of Los Angeles that hosts the festival. Some set up chairs and tables and tried to make the best of the delay.