More Rain, Snow Coming To Riverside County: NWS

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A storm system moving in from the east could drop light rain in Riverside County Monday and will bring the possibility for heavy snowfall in the nearby mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

The system currently centered over northwest Mexico is expected wrap around and reach Southern California Monday morning, with the bulk of the precipitation expected Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning, forecasters said.

The storm cell could drop around one-tenth of an inch of rain in Temecula and Lake Elsinore, while less than an inch is expected in the Riverside metropolitan area and up to a half-inch is expected in the county mountains, according to the NWS.

Snow levels will be down near 5,000 to 5,500 feet, according to the weather agency.

"Another low pressure storm moving southward through the western states will bring a slight chance of showers for late Tuesday night and early Wednesday," the NWS said. "Otherwise, dry weather with a warming trend will prevail Thursday through next weekend..."

In the first storm, the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning could get up to two-tenths of an inch of rain.

Snow levels were around 4,700 feet Monday morning. Up to 2 inches could fall around 5,500 feet Monday and snowfall totals could reach anywhere between 4 and 8 inches from 6,500 to 7,500 feet, forecasters said.

The inclement weather prompted the NWS to issue a winter weather advisory, which will be in effect from 3 p.m. Monday through noon Tuesday in the county mountains.

Snow on the roads and reduced visibility could make travel to those areas hazardous, forecasters said.

It is unlikely that flooding, mud and debris flows will develop around the Cleveland National Forest and the Temescal Valley, according to the Riverside County Emergency Management Department.

— City News Service contributed to this report