Cold Plunge Ahead As Rain, Snow Possible In SoCal Storm This Week

LOS ANGELES, CA — After experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, Southern California's weather will change dramatically throughout the week as a low-pressure system moves into the region, bringing falling temperatures, and a chance of rain and even snow at high elevations.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms as a low-pressure system heads to Southern California, bringing the possibility of lightning strikes and scattered showers that could cause isolated flooding. A storm could arrive early Saturday.

A ridge of high pressure that generated last week's heat wave has moved east.

On Monday, coastal areas saw a significant change in temperatures, with temperatures expected in the 70s -- 10 degrees cooler than Saturday. Temperatures will continue to stay in the 60s and 70s throughout the week as more cloud cover moves into the region.

By Sunday, there is a chance Southern California could see one-quarter to about half-an-inch of rain, forecasters said. Local mountains such as Big Bear are expecting rain and a light dusting of snow Saturday and Sunday as low as 6,800 feet, according to the National Weather Service.

"We expect a more robust low-pressure system later in the week, more like Friday or Saturday. We expect some chance of showers. More than likely, we will get measurable precipitation," said National Weather Service meteorologist Philip Gonsalves.

"Right now, there is an upper-level disturbance bringing fair amount of cloud cover and elevated precipitation," he said.

Forecasters said they expect a wet April to compensate for the extreme heat that struck California last month.

Here's a look at forecasted high temperatures across Southern California: