Rain Returns To Southwest RivCo, Atmospheric River Settles Over SoCal

TEMECULA, CA — The sunshine was fun while it lasted. This week, rain was forecast starting Tuesday night across the Inland Empire, and with it, strong winds and flooding in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.

"A trough of low pressure with an associated atmospheric river will bring widespread precipitation, along with gusty westerly winds, in the mountains and deserts, beginning Tuesday and going through Wednesday," NWS officials said in a Monday announcement. "Rain is expected to spread across the area Tuesday and Tuesday night, then decrease from the northwest Wednesday afternoon and evening."

The wet weather was predicted to douse Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, Hemet and Temecula starting Tuesday night, bringing 1.5 to 2 inches of rain. Showers are likely Wednesday in the entire county, including the deserts, according to the NWS. The heaviest rain was predicted to fall late Tuesday and early Wednesday, according to NWS Meteorologist Alexander Tardy.

This is all part of a pattern that has slammed the Inland Empire weekly for about a month, he said.

Rainfall in Southwest Riverside County and the Pass Area was expected to reach up to 2 inches. At the same time, Palm Desert and Palm Springs would see around .3 inches of rain, according to predictions from the National Weather Service.

A Flood Watch was posted concerning the upcoming storm, beginning Tuesday afternoon and continuing until Wednesday afternoon, cautioning that "flooding caused by rain and snowmelt is possible."

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of river, creeks, streams and other low-lying flood-prone locations," the NWS said.

Meteorologists said precipitation in the Riverside metropolitan area will be anywhere from three-quarters of an inch to 1.5 inches over the 24-hour period.

The mountain communities of Idyllwild-Pine Cove and Mountain Center, as well as the San Gorgonio Pass, were specifically referenced in the watch.

"Snow levels will rise above 9,000 feet Tuesday afternoon, then fall to around 6,500 feet Wednesday afternoon," according to the NWS. "That would mostly limit snowfall to above 7,000 feet and mostly on Wednesday afternoon."

Daytime temperatures will be about 65 degrees in the Riverside area Tuesday, while on Wednesday, the mercury will settle around 60, with lows in the low 50s Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

In the Coachella Valley, temperatures will top out in the mid to upper 70s Tuesday and Wednesday, with lows in the low to mid 50s.

In Southwest Riverside, temps will peak in the mid 60s on Tuesday and the mid 50s on Wednesday, with lows in the mid to upper 40s, according to the NWS.

This week in Temecula Valley:

Monday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 49. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.

Tuesday
A chance of rain after 11 am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night
Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 51. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday
Rain likely before 11am, then a chance of showers after 11am. The rain could be heavy at times. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 60.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.

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

Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 61.

Saturday Night
A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Sunday
A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59.