Storms Aim At Southwest Riverside County: Flood Watch, Wind Advisory

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A cold-weather storm series will strike Southwest Riverside County, including Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Murrieta and Temecula overnight, bringing howling winds, rain, and flooding to some areas, meteorologists from the National Weather Service predict. Mountains in Southwest Riverside County will also see snowfall, accumulating as low as 4,500 feet by early Friday, according to reports.

"Widespread moderate to heavy rain is expected on Thursday," the NWS said in a statement. "There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms for Thursday into Thursday evening ... west of the mountains. Rainfall totals through Friday will range from 1.5 to 2 inches near the coast, 2 to 3 inches in the mountains, and .3 to .5 inches closer to the deserts."

Residents concerned about flooding should check with their city's websites for where to pick up free sandbags.

• Wildomar suggests all residents concerned about flooding pick up their pre-filled sandbags at the Wildomar Cemetery. Limit ten per household, and a waiver must be signed.
• Lake Elsinore is offering 20 free sandbags for residents, for pickup at the Public Works yard at 521 N. Langstaff Street. Proof of residency is required, and residents must fill their own sandbags.
• In Temecula, the city provides up to ten free sandbags to residents during any storm, they reported on their website. Collect your sandbags at any fire station, then bring them to the city-owned lot at the corner of Vallejo and Santiago to fill them up. Bring your own shovel, they recommended.
• In Murrieta, visit your local Fire Station 1 to pick up your free ten sandbags per household. You must bag your own sand, they said.
• Residents of unincorporated areas can get sandbags and sand at their local hardware store, such as Home Depot.

In the Temecula Valley, daytime temps will stall in the upper 60s Wednesday, dropping to the upper 40s Wednesday night, while from Thursday to Saturday, the highs won't exceed 55 degrees, with lows in the low 40s, according to the NWS.

Low-lying areas, particularly around mountainous terrain, may be exposed to significant runoff, raising flood dangers, according to the agency.

The activity stems from back-to-back troughs of low pressure driven by an "atmospheric river" directed over Southern California by a southward bending jet stream, meteorologists said.
The NWS noted that as the initial trough and cold front push into the region Wednesday night, "strong southerly winds are expected."

"Peak wind gusts along the coast will be 40 to 50 mph, with gusts 35 to 45 mph possible in the valleys," the agency stated. "In the mountains and deserts, peak gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible."

Communities along Highway 243, including Idyllwild-Pine Cove, are in store for varying amounts of snow accumulations, according to forecasters.

"The snow level will start at 6,500 to 7,000 feet Thursday morning at the onset of the precipitation," the NWS said. "Periods of heavy snowfall are expected in the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains above 6,500 feet Thursday morning to early afternoon. Snow levels will fall to 4,500 feet by early Friday."

The agency predicted 1 to 3 inches of snow at 4,500 feet, 3 to 6 inches at 6,000 feet, and up to 2 feet of snow above 8,000 feet from Thursday to Saturday.

There will be a lull Saturday and Saturday night before another, less intense storm front reaches the region Sunday into Monday.

Daytime temperature in the Riverside metropolitan area Wednesday will hover in the upper 70s, dropping to the lows 50s overnight, while Thursday to Saturday highs will peak in the upper 50s, with lows in the low 40s.

In the Coachella Valley, highs will top out in the mid-70s Wednesday, with lows in the mid-50s. Thursday to Saturday, the daytime mercury won't edge much above 60, falling to the mid-40s at night.

Here is your seven-day forecast for Southwest Riverside County:

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday night
Rain, mainly after 4am. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 47. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday
Rain before 10am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 10am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 55. Breezy, with a south wind 20 to 25 mph becoming southwest 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Thursday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 44. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday
Showers likely, mainly before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night
A slight chance of showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Saturday Night
A slight chance of rain after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Sunday
A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Sunday Night
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Monday
Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.

Monday Night
Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Tuesday
Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.