Crazy Rainfall Totals, Snow Report: Southwest Riverside County

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — With a flash flood watch in effect across Southwest Riverside County through 8 p.m. Friday, heavy drenching and reports of street flooding continue across the region.

Over the last five days, Temecula has seen rainfall amounts of 4.37 inches, Murrieta 3.35 inches, and Lake Elsinore 3.43 inches. The totals were updated at 10 a.m. Friday by the National Weather Service.

Up to three quarters of an inch of rainfall is possible Friday in Southwest Riverside County, according to the NWS.

Up to an inch-and-a-half of rain is expected to fall Friday in the Riverside metropolitan area, while the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning could get an inch of rain, the mountains could get up to 1.75 inches of rain and a half-inch of rain is expected to fall in the Coachella Valley.

The cold storm system is not only bringing heavy rain and the possibility Friday afternoon of thunderstorms, but also snow in the mountains. A winter storm warning is in effect until 8 p.m. Friday in the mountain communities above 5,500 in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

As of 7 p.m. Thursday, a foot of snow had fallen at the 6,400-foot mark at Marion Mountain Campground in Pine Cove, while 5 inches of snow fell at 5,600 feet in Idyllwild, according to the NWS.

Snow levels will be around 4,500 feet Friday morning before rising to 5,100 feet Friday evening. Motorists are advised to use caution while driving above 5,500 feet because roads could be slippery and visibility could be limited because of falling snow.

The Idyllwild-Pine Cove area could get another 6 inches of snow Friday before the storm system exits Friday evening, forecasters said.

High temperatures Friday could reach 58 degrees in Riverside, 59 in the San Gorgonio Pass, 61 in the Coachella Valley, 38 in Idyllwild and 56 in Temecula and Hemet.

The storm system will make its way into Nevada and Arizona Friday evening and temperatures are expected to rise on Saturday, possibly reaching the low 60s in Southwest Riverside County.

—City News Service contributed to this report.