Winter Storm Expected To Pound Riverside County Next Week

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A storm packing wind, rain and snow is predicted to wallop the Inland Empire and the rest of Southern California beginning Monday night and continuing through Tuesday, the National Weather Service said Friday.

"The significant winter storm will bring widespread precipitation, gusty winds and cool conditions," the NWS said in a statement. "Preliminary rainfall estimates are .75 to 2 inches for the coast and valleys, 2 to 4 inches in the mountains, .5 to 1 inch in the high deserts, and .25 to .5 inches in the low deserts."

According to forecast models, the cold frontal boundary will descend from the Northwest and sweep across most of California, dipping well into the southern region, though precipitation will start at different times, depending on the speed and direction of the storm. The heaviest downpours will likely be midday Tuesday, NWS prognostication charts showed.

"Strong winds from the coast to the deserts are expected ahead of and with the passage of this system," according to the Weather Service. "Southerly winds will increase Monday night into Tuesday, before turning west late Tuesday. Strongest wind gusts in coast and valley locations will be 25 to 35 mph. Strongest winds over the mountains and onto desert slopes will be 60 to 70 mph."

Forecasters said snow levels will hold around 7,000 feet for most of Tuesday, and then with nightfall, begin a precipitous drop to 3,500 feet, remaining at that level Tuesday night.

"The timing of the system and associated cold front greatly impact snow levels and amounts," the NWS said. "Preliminary snowfall estimates are 1 to 2 feet above 7,000, 4 to 12 inches between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, and a trace to 4 inches below 5,000 feet."

Snowfall at the mile-high level will likely impact Highway 243 and other mountain roads in the vicinity of Idyllwild and Mountain Center. Highways 79 and 371 could also be affected, if there are appreciable snow accumulations below 5,000 feet.

According to the Weather Service, high temperatures in the Riverside metropolitan area Monday and Tuesday are expected to be in the mid-50s, with lows in the low 40s. In the Coachella Valley, highs will generally hover in the mid-60s, with lows in the upper 40s, while in the Temecula Valley, highs will be in the low to mid-50s, with lows in the mid-40s.