Monsoonal storms possible with increasing humidity

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Humidity has really skyrocketed Sunday afternoon. Dew points across the valley have been well in the 60s and 70s. There's a decent amount of clouds filtering past the valley as we see some monsoonal activity in our local mountains.

A look at the Doppler radar shows some significant rainfall near Anza just after 1 o'clock this afternoon. Several other cells developed in the High Desert and near Big Bear.

The ingredients are gathering for more significant rainfall on Monday and Tuesday. Instability will be increasing and an influx of monsoonal moisture is expected. Models vary somewhat on timing and rain rates, but the greatest chances look to land between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service warns for mountain communities to be prepared for more widespread thunderstorms Monday afternoon with heavy rain, frequent lightning, and localized flooding possible as instability peaks. It's possible for the stronger cells to make their way onto the desert floor.

This all comes as we look toward a break in the heat. Our Extreme Heat Warning is set to expire this evening at 8 p.m.

Highs tomorrow could finally make its way back down below the 110°F mark. If we end up seeing more moisture and cloud cover, we could even see those numbers drop to the low 100s.

Of course, the mugginess will be noticeable tomorrow. Dew points will be in the 60s and 70s, which again, could lend itself to more monsoonal activity. This will also make things feel hotter than it actually is, so be sure to still be practicing heat safety, even if the air temperature reads lower than this weekend.

Once we overcome the humidity, big improvements are on the horizon. We expect to dry out and cool off as a more robust trough approaches our region. We'll be watching for some increasing winds, but temperatures look to drop into the low 100s for the latter half of the week!

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