Will Palm Desert See More Rain? NWS Winter Storm Forecast

PALM DESERT, CA — Storm clouds that dumped flooding rains across Ventura and Los Angeles County have their sights set on the Inland Empire Thursday until Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch that will be in effect until Friday and a winter weather advisory that will be in effect from Thursday until Saturday.

Abundant rainfall is coming, the NWS said in a statement.

"The beginning of the heavier rain will ... likely begin late Wednesday night and early Thursday in Riverside and San Diego counties. Most of the heavier precipitation will be convective due to the instability of the low pressure. Hourly rainfall rates of 1 inch appear in some of the (models) for Thursday night."

The flood watch runs until 4 p.m. Friday, while the winter weather advisory runs from 6 p.m. Thursday to 4 a.m. Saturday.

Wet snow is expected above 6,500 feet, with total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches at elevations from 6,500 to 7,500 feet, 3 to 6 inches from 7,500 to 8,000 feet, and 6 to 12 inches above 8,000 feet in the Riverside County Mountains.

As of 5 a.m., approximately 0.48 inches of rain was reported in Norco, and 0.47 inches was reported at Prado Dam.

Approximately 0.28 inches of rain was reported in Temecula, and 0.26 inches was reported at March Air Force Base.

Two troughs of low pressure will slide through California, with the current one exiting to the east Wednesday and the next one reaching the coast as an occluded front soon afterward, moving slowly across the region, gradually pushing into Arizona by Saturday, forecasters say.

The NWS predicted isolated thunderstorms, with the highest probability on Thursday and into Friday morning, the first day of winter.

"Snow levels will generally be above 7,000 feet through Friday but start to drop after that as moisture decreases, possibly to 6,000 feet Saturday," the NWS stated. "The highest roads and ski resorts will encounter accumulating snowfall, with Big Bear mostly receiving rain. Winds generally will not be an issue with this storm, but some gusts over 30 mph could occur in the mountains and deserts around Thursday."

According to meteorologists, temperatures will remain average throughout the storm series, with no influence from the Polar jet stream.

In the Riverside metropolitan area, highs will be in the mid-60s through Friday, with overnight temperatures in the low 50s.

In the Coachella Valley, the daytime mercury will hover around 70 and fall into the mid-50s overnight this week, while in the Temecula Valley, the temperature band will be virtually identical to Riverside metro, though the daytime high will peak in the upper 50s on Friday.

WEATHER FORECAST FOR PALM DESERT:

Thursday
A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday night
Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 4am. Low around 56. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 63. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 69. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 68.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 49.

Christmas Day
Sunny, with a high near 68.

Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 70.