Summer Thunderstorms, Monsoonal Moisture Forecast Near Murrieta

MURRIETA, CA — Monsoonal moisture from a hurricane swell over the Pacific Ocean brought summer rain Tuesday morning to many parts of Riverside County. The National Weather Service reported light to moderate showers moving northwest across the county beginning about 2 a.m. Tuesday morning. The radar was showing "scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms with the greatest coverage across the western half of Riverside County and adjacent areas."

"Most rainfall reports have been light, less than one-tenth of an inch, with 0.15 inch near Cathedral City" in the Coachella Valley, the NWS said. "It is possible there have been isolated greater amounts from thunderstorms that have mostly missed the rainfall gauges. But ... even those areas have most likely not received more than a few tenths of an inch."

Epic lightning over Morongo Valley, California! PC: Ron Morgan #Cawx pic.twitter.com/xpKs0QLqbF
— Jeff Forgeron (@WeatherJefe) August 1, 2017

As the moisture in the air increases through Friday, chances of afternoon thunderstorms will continue in the mountains and the deserts, forecasters said.

There is a chance that the valleys may also see thunderstorms and showers through Wednesday as the disturbance moves through the region, according to the NWS.

Map of in-cloud & cloud-to-ground lightning in the NWS San Diego forecast area from 12-6 am this morning. 868 total strikes were observed. pic.twitter.com/UUQQJWAQ9Q
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) August 1, 2017

In addition, a ridge of high pressure next week is expected to cause highs to be five to 10 degrees above normal, the agency said.

"Some inland valley areas could reach near heat advisory criteria Wednesday through Friday," the NWS said.

AS FOR MURRIETA IN PARTICULAR, HERE IS THE FORECAST FOR THE COMING DAYS, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE:

Today
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 98. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Wednesday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 96. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 98. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Friday
Sunny, with a high near 97.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

— City News Service contributed to this report / Image via National Weather Service