Snow, Rain Forecast In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A storm system rolling across the Inland Empire Thursday will produce rain and moderate snowfall at higher elevations going into the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said the trough of low pressure sliding into the region from the northwest will spread wet weather throughout Southern California, though intensity levels will vary.

"Showers will develop tonight and continue into Thursday afternoon, with showers ending from the northwest early Thursday evening," the NWS stated. "Rainfall will range from one-tenth to one-quarter inch near the coast, to one-half to one-inch in the mountains. Less than one-tenth is expected in the deserts."

Freezing levels will generally hold around 6,500 feet but could dip lower overnight, meteorologists said. Snow showers and wind are forecast in the local mountain communities within and around the San Bernardino National Forest.

Forecasters warned that "gusty southwest to west winds" were likely in mountains and passes as the storm front traverses the area.

The system will exit the region by Thursday night, followed by an immediate drying out going into the weekend, according to the NWS.

However, another storm system gaining energy in the Gulf of Alaska is predicted to envelope most of California by Monday night, according to NWS prognostication charts. The trough may generate moderate to heavy precipitation in the Inland Empire.

"A significant storm is looking increasingly likely to impact Southern California early next week," the NWS said. "An atmospheric river will move down the coast Monday, with the strongest moisture transport occurring across our area early Tuesday morning into the
afternoon. Preliminary rainfall amounts are as follows: 1-1.5 inches for the coast and valleys, 2-4 inches in the mountains, 0.5-0.75 inch in the High Deserts and 0.25-0.50 inch in the lower deserts."

The NWS said snow levels will drop Tuesday night into Wednesday.

"How quickly these levels fall will determine how much snow falls across lower elevation, but snow could fall as low as 5,000 feet Tuesday night," the agency said.

The highs in the Riverside metropolitan area Thursday will top out in the upper 50s, with lows near 40. In the Coachella Valley, temperatures will peak in the low 60s Thursday, with lows in the upper 40s, while in the Temecula Valley, highs will reach the mid-50s, with lows in the upper 30s, according to the NWS.