'Life-Threatening Flash Flooding,' 2 Inches Of Rain Per Hour Possible In Riverside County: NWS

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA -- Another day of crazy weather is on tap for the Lake Elsinore and surrounding areas on Wednesday, as "deep monsoonal moisture" plagues the area, the National Weather Service reports. The agency issued a flood watch for much of Riverside County as rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue throughout the county through Wednesday evening. (Scroll down for an hour-by-hour forecast for Lake Elsinore)

"Southern California often has benign weather, but when weather conditions set up, high-impact weather can occur," the NWS said in its Wednesday forecast discussion. "Today has that potential."

Officials say that practically everywhere but the immediate coast in SoCal is under a flash flood watch, including Riverside, Hemet, Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Banning and Beaumont.

Here's more from the agency's forecast discussion:

Water vapor loops shows an upper level low spinning off the Southern California coast. Another trough is seen moving northwest from northern Baja.
Models show this axis moving across the area this afternoon. This in combination with heating, tropical moisture in place (San Diego sounding measured a tropical PW/Precipitable Water at 2.06"), and elevated instability (MUCAPE 1000-2000 J/KG), will allow for the potential of strong thunderstorms capable of producing life-threatening flash flooding and strong downburst winds capable of producing damage.
Extensive mid level cloudiness likely will delay development, but we expect thunderstorm action to rev up during the afternoon and evening.

Wednesday's rain and stormy weather -- courtesy of a monsoonal flow out of northern Mexico and Arizona -- will continue a streak of humid, sticky summer weather that saw heavy rainfall Tuesday trigger roadway flooding, mud slides and debris flows, prompting temporary road closures in several locations.

Downpours in Lake Elsinore, Perris and Temecula between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. led to disruptions on unincorporated streets and on freeways.

Near the site of Monday's wildfire on the west end of Lake Elsinore, rapidly flowing water at Grand Avenue and Plumas Street forced the California Highway Patrol to temporarily close off the intersection. A mudslide was reported along Rainbow Canyon Road, near southbound Interstate 15 in Temecula, according to the CHP. No freeway lanes were closed, however.

Satellite images showed the heaviest concentrations of rain in the southwest of the county as thunderstorm cells reached maturity. Less intense rainfall reached Corona, Moreno Valley and Riverside, amid hot and humid conditions.

Here's a video from the National Weather Service explaining the risks expected today:

Main image via Pixabay