Major Storm Pushes Into Southern California
A cold Pacific storm system moving toward the Southland stands “a good chance” of bringing periods of rain to Los Angeles County this afternoon and moving into the Coachella Valley overnight, according to the National Weather Service.
Already, the NWS has issued a Wind Advisory, which will take effect at 5pm today, and last through 11am on Wednesday.
Snow is possible down to 3,500 feet in the mountains tonight through Wednesday and could affect travel on the Golden State (5) Freeway in the Grapevine area, forecasters said.
With that low of a snow level, the Riverside and San Bernardino County mountains could also get a Spring dusting of snow.
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The incoming storm “does not appear to pose a grave threat or be of significant concern” to the Station Fire burn areas, said NWS Meteorologist Rich Thompson.
By tonight, gusty west winds will develop in coastal areas, in the mountains and in the Antelope Valley, according to the NWS.
Bands of moisture are expected to move over Southern California from tonight through Thursday, and “while it certainly will not rain the entire time … there will be a chance of showers at times across the area” tonight through early Thursday, forecasters said.
Cold air at higher altitudes will blanket the region tonight into Wednesday, destabilizing the atmosphere and bringing a slight chance of thunderstorms, according to the weather service.
If thunderstorms develop, they could produce hail and brief heavy downpours. Overall precipitation with this storm system is expected to be light and showery — not intense.
Preliminary rainfall estimates call for one-tenth to one-third of an inch in coastal and valley areas of Los Angeles County, and one-third to three- quarters of an inch in the foothills and mountains. Totals of an inch or more are possible in some areas.
In the Coachella Valley, rainfall amounts are not expected to be any more than a quarter-inch.
Snowfall totals for the incoming storm system could reach several inches in the mountains.
Rainfall amounts will be greater if this storm system tracks farther south and west than expected. Conversely, if the storm track edges farther inland, the result will be much less rain, according to the NWS.
