Storms Aim At Pass Area, Inland Empire: Flood Watch, Wind Advisory

BEAUMONT, CA — A cold-weather storm series will strike the Inland Empire overnight, bringing howling winds, rain, and flooding to some areas, meteorologists from the National Weather Service predict. Mountains in Southwest Riverside County will also see snowfall, accumulating as low as 4,500 feet by early Friday, according to reports.

"Widespread moderate to heavy rain is expected on Thursday," the NWS said in a statement. "There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms for Thursday into Thursday evening ... west of the mountains. Rainfall totals through Friday will range from 1.5 to 2 inches near the coast, 2 to 3 inches in the mountains, and .3 to .5 inches closer to the deserts."

Low-lying areas, particularly around mountainous terrain, may be exposed to significant runoff, raising flood dangers, according to the agency.

The activity stems from back-to-back troughs of low pressure driven by an "atmospheric river" directed over Southern California by a southward bending jet stream, meteorologists said.
The NWS noted that as the initial trough and cold front push into the region Wednesday night, "strong southerly winds are expected."

"Peak wind gusts along the coast will be 40 to 50 mph, with gusts 35 to 45 mph possible in the valleys," the agency stated. "In the mountains and deserts, peak gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible."

Communities along Highway 243, including Idyllwild-Pine Cove, are in store for varying amounts of snow accumulations, according to forecasters.

"The snow level will start at 6,500 to 7,000 feet Thursday morning at the onset of the precipitation," the NWS said. "Periods of heavy snowfall are expected in the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains above 6,500 feet Thursday morning to early afternoon. Snow levels will fall to 4,500 feet by early Friday."

The agency predicted 1 to 3 inches of snow at 4,500 feet, 3 to 6 inches at 6,000 feet, and up to 2 feet of snow above 8,000 feet from Thursday to Saturday.

There will be a lull Saturday and Saturday night before another, less intense storm front reaches the region Sunday into Monday.

Daytime temperature in the Riverside metropolitan area Wednesday will hover in the upper 70s, dropping to the lows 50s overnight, while Thursday to Saturday highs will peak in the upper 50s, with lows in the low 40s.

In the Coachella Valley, highs will top out in the mid-70s Wednesday, with lows in the mid-50s. Thursday to Saturday, the daytime mercury won't edge much above 60, falling to the mid-40s at night.

In the Temecula Valley, daytime temps will stall in the upper 60s Wednesday, dropping to the upper 40s Wednesday night, while from Thursday to Saturday, the highs won't exceed 55 degrees, with lows in the low 40s, according to the NWS.

Here is your seven-day forecast for the Pass Area:

Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight
Rain, mainly after 4am. The rain could be heavy at times. Patchy fog after 10pm. Low around 44. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday
Rain before 10am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. High near 49. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then showers likely. Patchy fog. Low around 41. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday
A chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 48. West wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night
A chance of showers before 10pm. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 50.

Saturday Night
A chance of rain, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Sunday Night
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Monday
Rain likely. The rain could be heavy at times. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.

Monday Night
Rain likely. The rain could be heavy at times. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Tuesday
Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.