Back-To-Back Storms Barrel Toward SoCal With Plummeting Temps, Rain And Snow

Temperatures across Southern California will drop significantly as a series of storms enters the region, bringing rain and thunderstorms.

Following an unusually hot early-spring weather, temperatures will begin to cool Thursday. By Friday, most areas will be at least 10 degrees cooler than on Wednesday: Mostly in the 60s to lower 70s, according to the National Weather Service. In the mountains, temperatures will fall low enough for snow.

"A cooling trend will begin Thursday as high pressure gets nudged to the east due to an advancing upper low over the eastern Pacific. Increasing morning low clouds and fog are expected along the coastal areas (Thursday), then reaching some of the coastal valleys Friday morning as the marine layer deepens," the NWS said.

Multiple low pressure systems are expected to move through California Friday though Monday.

Forecasters haven't nailed down exact rainfall amounts or timing, but say residents should expect "light to moderate precipitation" in two separate rounds.

The first storm will pass over SoCal late Friday and into early Saturday. The second will arrive on Sunday; precipitation is expected to linger into early Monday. The second storm is expected to be stronger than the first.

A half inch to 1.5 inches of total rainfall will be common, with the highest amounts in the mountains and foothills, where thunderstorms will be possible, according to the NWS.

"In most cases, a few tenths of an inch to about 1 inch of rain will fall. Where thunderstorms develop or mountains provide a boost, the heavier downpours could deliver a couple of inches of rain," according to AccuWeather.

The precipitation will be "showery in nature," rather than torrential downpours, forecasters said.

"Rainfall will be very much off and on, sometimes more off than on," the NWS said. "It won't be a total washout weekend by any means, but there still could be some periods of heavy rain."

Snow is possible in the mountains at elevations above 5,000-6,000 feet.