Rain Showers, Gusty Winds Headed for Murrieta: NWS

Riverside County residents should be prepared for some gusty winds and rain headed to the region, as a storm rolls in Thursday, weather service officials say.

"A Pacific low pressure system will move into Southern California today," the National Weather Service out of San Diego reported. "It will bring strong winds to parts of the mountains and deserts this afternoon and tonight."

"Showers will develop across the region late in the day and continue through Sunday. There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms this evening through Friday."

A wind advisory for the mountains and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning is set to take effect at 3 p.m. Thursday and extend until 5 a.m. Friday. Winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour will be possible throughout the advisory period, along with gusts to 55 mph.

The wind advisory did not apply to the Coachella Valley although the NWS predicted winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts to 30 mph Thursday would ramp up to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph at night. A slight chance of showers with a 20 percent chance of measurable precipitation in Thursday's forecast will be followed by a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms Friday.

The winds are expected to die down somewhat Friday and over the weekend, but the rain will stick around for a couple more days, according to the NWS. The chance of showers will gradually increase Thursday afternoon and evening and "become likely" through Friday.

"The greatest chance of showers will be tonight and Friday, with a few thunderstorms possible," according to the weather service. "Fair and warmer weather will return next week as high pressure moves over the west coast."

Rainfall amounts are expected to range from a few hundredths of an inch in the low deserts to two-tenths of an inch in the valleys to half an inch or so in the mountains, according to the NWS.

– City News Service contributed to this report.  Image via the National Weather Service.