Rain Likely In Coachella Valley: Flood Watch In Effect Until Saturday

PALM DESERT, CA — A cold-weather storm series will strike the Inland Empire overnight, bringing howling winds, rain, and flooding to some areas, meteorologists from the National Weather Service predict. Mountains in Riverside County will also see snowfall, accumulating as low as 4,500 feet by early Friday, according to reports. Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley will see up to 90 percent chance of rain through Thursday night, the NWS reported.

"Widespread moderate to heavy rain is expected on Thursday," the NWS said in a statement. "There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms for Thursday into Thursday evening ... west of the mountains. Rainfall totals through Friday will range from 1.5 to 2 inches near the coast, 2 to 3 inches in the mountains, and .3 to .5 inches closer to the deserts."

Low-lying areas, particularly around mountainous terrain, may be exposed to significant runoff, raising flood dangers, according to the agency.

The activity stems from back-to-back troughs of low pressure driven by an "atmospheric river" directed over Southern California by a southward bending jet stream, meteorologists said.
The NWS noted that as the initial trough and cold front push into the region Wednesday night, "strong southerly winds are expected."

"Peak wind gusts along the coast will be 40 to 50 mph, with gusts 35 to 45 mph possible in the valleys," the agency stated. "In the mountains and deserts, peak gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible."

Communities along Highway 243, including Idyllwild-Pine Cove, are in store for varying amounts of snow accumulations, according to forecasters.

"The snow level will start at 6,500 to 7,000 feet Thursday morning at the onset of the precipitation," the NWS said. "Periods of heavy snowfall are expected in the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains above 6,500 feet Thursday morning to early afternoon. Snow levels will fall to 4,500 feet by early Friday."

The agency predicted 1 to 3 inches of snow at 4,500 feet, 3 to 6 inches at 6,000 feet, and up to 2 feet of snow above 8,000 feet from Thursday to Saturday.

There will be a lull Saturday and Saturday night before another, less intense storm front reaches the region Sunday into Monday.

Daytime temperature in the Riverside metropolitan area Wednesday will hover in the upper 70s, dropping to the lows 50s overnight, while Thursday to Saturday highs will peak in the upper 50s, with lows in the low 40s.

In the Coachella Valley, highs will top out in the mid-70s Wednesday, with lows in the mid-50s. Thursday to Saturday, the daytime mercury won't edge much above 60, falling to the mid-40s at night.

In the Temecula Valley, daytime temps will stall in the upper 60s Wednesday, dropping to the upper 40s Wednesday night, while from Thursday to Saturday, the highs won't exceed 55 degrees, with lows in the low 40s, according to the NWS.

Here is your seven-day forecast for the Coachella Valley:

Today
Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 73. Light southeast wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight
Rain likely after 4am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 52. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday
Rain likely before 10am, then showers, mainly after 10am. High near 59. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night
Showers likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Breezy.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 64.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Sunday
A chance of rain, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 61.

Sunday Night
A chance of rain, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Monday
A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 60.

Monday Night
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Tuesday
Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.