'Atmospheric River' To Dump Heavy Rain On Palm Desert

PALM DESERT, CA — Get those umbrellas ready again, more rain is coming to Palm Desert and it's expected to be heavy at times. The National Weather Service says a low-pressure storm system is expected to bring an "atmospheric river" with it to Riverside County Wednesday, bringing moderate to heavy showers as well as the potential for flash flooding and debris flows.

The inclement weather forecast prompted Riverside County officials to issue a voluntary evacuation order late Tuesday for select areas near the recent Holy Fire burn area.

"Lighter rainfall will develop today and become more widespread this evening," the NWS said in its Wednesday morning forecast discussion. "The rainfall is expected to be heavy at times for late tonight through Thursday afternoon with the greatest rainfall on the coastal mountain slopes. There will also be strong gusty southwest to west winds in the mountains from this afternoon into Thursday evening."

Snow levels are also expected to lower, but are expected to remain above 9,000 feet.

All this talk of an #AtmosphericRiver. Here's what it looks like from outer space Notice the moisture plume take aim at California. #cawx #castorm pic.twitter.com/71J3uCQzJ2
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) February 13, 2019

The NWS issued a flash flood watch for the Riverside County mountains, valleys and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning that will be in effect from late Wednesday evening through Thursday evening. A high wind warning will also be in effect in the county mountains from noon Wednesday through 10 p.m. Thursday.fThe Coachella Valley was not included in either advisory.

The Riverside metropolitan area and Lake Elsinore are forecast to get up to four-tenths of an inch of rainfall Wednesday, while up to six-tenths of an inch is expected in the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and the Coachella Valley will receive around one-tenth of an inch, forecasters said. Idyllwild and Pine Cove could get up to 2 inches of rainfall Wednesday.

South to southwest winds of 25 to 40 mph, with gusts reaching 65 mph, are expected Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening, according to the NWS.

As for Palm Desert in particular, here's what the National Weather Service says residents can expect for the next few days:

Wednesday
A chance of rain after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night
Rain, mainly after 11pm. Low around 51. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday
Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 60. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday Night
A chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

The Riverside County Emergency Management Department issued voluntary evacuation orders for the following neighborhoods near the Holy Fire burn area: Amorose, Alberhill, Alvarado-A, Glen Eden, Glen Ivy-A, Glen Ivy-B, Grace, Horsethief-A, Laguna-A, Lakeside-A, Maitri, McVicker-A, Rice and Withrow-A.

The EMD also advised residents near the Cranston burn area, which blackened just over 13,000 acres between Hemet and Idyllwild, to prepare for potential evacuation orders by arranging transportation, putting fuel in cars and making plans to care for animals.

County officials urged residents to check maps at www.RivCoReady.org/StormReady to determine if they are in an evacuation area. Residents can also sign up for emergency alert notifications via the website.

A wide area skirting the eastern boundary of the national forest, including Lake Elsinore and the Temescal Valley, was left exposed to potential flood damage because of the 23,000-acre Holy Fire in August. The blaze, allegedly the work of an arsonist, denuded steep terrain below Santiago Peak, permitting water to flow unchecked onto lower slopes where subdivisions are situated.

During a three-part storm series between Jan. 31 and Feb. 4, the EMD issued mandatory evacuation orders covering the Glen Ivy, Horsethief Canyon and McVicker Park communities on the north side of Lake Elsinore and south of El Cerrito, along Interstate 15.

Mud and debris flows prompted several street closures, but no significant damage was reported in connection with the storms.

The storm will die down significantly late Thursday afternoon and scattered showers are expected to continue through Monday afternoon, Miller said.

— City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Shutterstock