Rainfall Records Smashed, Temecula Soaked By Winter Storm

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The first winter storm of the season spawned heavy downpours and strong winds Tuesday that left roads a mess in some parts of Riverside County, as well as causing other hazards.

The fast-moving trough of low pressure began its race across the region during the overnight hours, ushering in light rainfall that soon developed into powerful rain bursts, backed by stiff winds.

The heavy rain was continuing Tuesday night, and rainfall records were being smashed.

Riverside County's oldest cities — which have tracked rainfall levels for decades — set new records Tuesday. As of 5:43 p.m., Lake Elsinore, Riverside and San Jacinto had each more than doubled their old records, according to the National Weather Service.

As of 11 p.m., the NWS reported Temecula had received 1.66 inches of rain from the storm. Murrieta was recorded at 2.52 inches. Lake Elsinore's old Dec. 14 record stretches back to 1934 when only .46 inches of precipitation were documented.

There were no hard freeway closures as a result of the harsh weather, though lanes on all the major arteries — the Riverside (91) Freeway, the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway, Interstate 15 and Interstate 215 — were impacted at different times, causing disruptions, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The connector bridge from the eastbound 91 to the northbound Corona (71) Expressway was closed Tuesday afternoon due to flooding, according to the CHP. At least one freeway exit ramp, at Arlington Avenue from the 91 in Riverside, was also shut down due to flooding.

Numerous accidents occurred on the freeways throughout the morning and into the early afternoon, but most were skid-outs in rain-saturated lanes, and none involved major injuries, according to authorities.

On Paradise Canyon Drive, in Menifee, a tree toppled onto a house during high winds, causing damage but not injuring anyone inside, according to reports from the scene.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department crews were sent to secure sites where power lines had fallen in several locations, and in a few cases, crews removed trees from roads.

The National Weather Service said a flood watch was in effect until 9 p.m. for most of western Riverside County, and a wind advisory was also in effect until midnight.

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," the NWS said.

Concerns about flooding prompted Riverside County officials to issue an evacuation warning for select areas near the Apple and El Dorado burn area north of Beaumont and Banning.

County officials also worked to relocate homeless people out of the Santa Ana river bottom, which consistently floods during heavy precipitation.

A winter storm warning through 2 a.m. Wednesday was issued by the NWS. Snow levels were expected to drop to 3,500 to 4,000 feet Tuesday night. Total snow accumulations were forecast at 4 to 12 inches between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. Above 7,000 feet, 1 to 3 feet was expected, with locally higher amounts above 8,000 feet.

The storm will sweep through Southern California before exiting to the east in the predawn hours Wednesday, with periods of damaging winds across the region, according to the NWS.

Chilly temperatures will persist throughout the week, with the possibility of additional light showers late Thursday into Friday, forecasters said.