RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A mostly wet week looms for the Inland Empire, with rainfall amounts increasing on Wednesday, Christmas Day. The storm will also bring snow to the local mountains, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters said that the trough of low pressure will roll into Southern California from the north beginning Tuesday night, with the most significant rainfall in the inland region occurring throughout Wednesday and part of Thursday.
“Rainfall totals through Thursday could range from one-half to 1 inch near the coast, to 1.5 to 2 inches in the mountains, with less than one-quarter inch in the deserts,” according to an NWS statement. “The snow level will lower to around 6,000 feet for Wednesday through Thursday, with a few inches of snowfall possible in the mountains of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties above 6,000 feet.”
Thunderstorms are also in the forecast, as well as strong westerly winds, mainly on Wednesday, as the instability intensifies from a clash of cold and warm air, meteorologists said.
High temperatures in the Riverside metropolitan area will be in the low 60s Wednesday and Thursday, while in the Coachella Valley, the mercury will hover in the mid-60s, according to forecasters.
The stormy weather will fragment and trail off to the east Thursday night, with mostly sunny skies and seasonal temps going into the weekend, the NWS said.
No flash flood or other severe weather watches have been issued for this meteorological event yet.