Southwest Riverside Braces For Next Round Of Storms: Rainfall Totals

TEMECULA, CA — Storm systems pounded Southwest Riverside County and the Inland Empire and produced intense winds, heavy rain and snowfall at higher elevations, and another storm is expected to arrive Sunday.

The official two-day rainfall totals in Riverside County, according to the National Weather Service, were: Temecula: 1.1 inches; Murrieta: .98 inches; Lake Elsinore: 1.46 inches, and at the French Valley Airport: 1 inch of rain.

Elsewhere in the county, Banning, Beaumont and Cabazon reported just over a half inch of rain. In the deserts, Palm Springs Airport reported just over a half-inch of rain, as did Palm Desert. The Whitewater Trout Farm recorded nearly one inch of rain during the first of two storms to strike the region, according to the NWS.

The National Weather Service warned low-lying areas, particularly around mountainous terrain, was exposed Thursday to significant runoff, raising flood dangers because of the rain.

On Friday, Palm Springs police reported two road closures, one at Gene Autry Trail through the wash from East Via Escuela to Salvia Road and another at East Vista Chino through the wash, because of flooding.

The activity stemmed 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.

Communities along Highway 243, including Idyllwild-Pine Cove, experienced 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.

Residents and business owners in Indio were encouraged to pick up empty sandbags to safeguard their properties from the upcoming forecasted rainstorms.

A sandbag pickup station was set up in downtown Indio at 45250 Smurr St. until 5 p.m. Wednesday, with a limit of 10 empty sandbags per household, according to city spokeswoman Jessica Mediano.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to community safety and preparedness, the City of Indio is taking proactive measures in anticipation of the upcoming rainstorms," Mediano said in a statement. "We understand the importance of being prepared for adverse weather conditions, and we want to ensure that our residents and businesses have the resources they need to safeguard their properties."

More information about storm preparedness from the city can be found at indio.org/departments/indio-emergency-preparedness-program/.