Storm To Bring Heavy Rain, Snow To Riverside County

RIVERSIDE, CA — Just days after a heatwave baked the Southland region with summer-like weather, a strong Pacific storm is expected to move into the region bringing heavy rainfall to Riverside County and significant snow to the local mountains. The storm is expected to be the most significant so far this season, bringing much-need rain to the parched landscape.

The National Weather Service forecast a slight chance of rain moving in late Sunday night with the bulk of the storm landing Monday along with a chance of thunder and lightning. Forecasters have placed Southern California in an excessive rainfall outlook risk area on Monday. Forecasters warned of possible street flooding and potential mudslides from heavy rainfall on the mountain burn scars.

According to the National Weather Service, the heaviest storm of the season could bring as much as 2 inches of rain in the valleys, up to 4 inches of rain in the mountains. The mountains could get heavy snowfall above elevations of 6,000-feet. The National Weather Service on Sunday forecast between 8 and 18 inches of snow at higher elevations "with possible significant amounts above 7,000 feet," forecasters said.

High elevation snow and gusty winds are expected through Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. There will be a chance of thunderstorms that could bring heavy downpours and small hail Monday afternoon through Monday night before drier conditions prevail late Tuesday through Friday, the NWS said.

The rain is not expected to start falling until Sunday night with temperatures dropping 15 degrees by Monday.

Highs in Riverside Monday are expected to be 63 degrees; 59 degrees in Temecula, Lake Elsinore and Banning; and 30 degrees in Big Bear.

Stormy conditions are expected to clear out by late Tuesday, with temperatures again climbing by 5 to 10 degrees, according to the NWS.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.