Brutal late-winter storm raising flood risk
A late-winter storm rolling into the Inland Empire tomorrow night and Thursday is expected to unleash intense rainfall throughout the region, raising fears of flooding similar to what was experienced during a rain series at the beginning of the year.
According to the National Weather Service, the heaviest rain is likely to occur after 11 p.m. Wednesday, though showers could develop Tuesday and continue Wednesday in some locations.
Between Wednesday night and Thursday night, rainfall rates could reach up to an inch per hour at different intervals, according to the NWS. Total rainfall is predicted to range between four and six inches, meteorologists said. A flash flood watch is in effect from Wednesday evening to Thursday night.
“Flash flooding is possible. Debris flows may also occur near recent burn scars,” according to an NWS statement.
Fears are burn areas along the perimeter of the Cleveland National Forest abutting Corona could turn into streambeds. Last September, the Canyon Fire blackened 2,600 acres, denuding hillsides and creating potential flood zones.
In early January, a storm series triggered flooding along multiple streets in south Corona, including Canyon Crest and Wilderness drives. Residents were evacuated for two days as streets became mired in mud and runoff.
The Corona Fire Department is providing sandbags to residents. Riverside County Fire Department personnel are also supplying bags and loose sand at multiple stations.
According to the Weather Service, while torrential rain will pound portions of western Riverside County, desert areas to the east will not be under a similar threat.
The Coachella Valley has a light to moderate precipitation outlook for Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and a slight chance of rain Thursday evening. The biggest result of the storm will be cloudy skies, though temperatures should be seasonable. High temperatures in the Coachella Valley were forecast to be 84 on Wednesday and 76 to 81 on Thursday.
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