Thunderstorms Possible Through Saturday Night In Pass Area

BANNING-BEAUMONT, CA — Thunderstorms in the San Gorgonio Pass Area were bringing some showers to the region Friday afternoon, and the precipitation could continue into Saturday, night according to the National Weather Service.

"An upper-level area of low pressure is currently circulating over Northern Baja California. This has been associated with moist east and north flow, where thunderstorms have developed this morning and continue currently over much of the region," the NWS reported. "The atmosphere will be unstable enough today ... for support of isolated showers and thunderstorms in the western valleys and the coastal areas as well. Storms may produce areas of heavy rain that maylead to flash flooding for the Riverside and San Diego County mountains/deserts."

A flash flood watch remained in effect through 7 p.m. Friday in Riverside County mountains and the Coachella Valley, according to the NWS.

"Storm chances will decrease a bit for Saturday as the low shifts slightly south, where storms will mainly be confined to the mountains and deserts ...," the NWS reported. "As the low-pressure system slowly pushes east on Sunday, the atmosphere will lose a bit of instability and lift, so storms have a lesser chance popping up across the mountains and lower deserts.
"Temperatures will also continue to decrease through the weekend where we will see most areas around 5 degrees below average by Sunday," the agency said.

Highs in the Pass Areas of Banning and Beaumont will be in the mid-80s Saturday and low 80s Sunday. Chance of rain Saturday is 30 percent, according to the NWS.