Christmas storm to bring rain, heavy snow; wind advisory issued for Thursday
A Christmas storm could produce heavy rain and snow, forecasters said Wednesday, warning that travel through parts of the Inland Empire may be difficult.
A trough of low pressure hanging off the coast will overlay most of Southern California by Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service, ushering in significant precipitation comparable to what was seen on Thanksgiving.
The NWS has issued a wind advisory for Thursday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Orange County and the Inland Empire, with southeast winds 15 to 25 mph expected, along with gusts to 40 mph.
During the overnight hours Wednesday into Thursday, rainfall is predicted to be intense in many locations, and as temperatures drop, so will snow levels.
Winter Storm Watch EXPANDED
To include the High Desert on Thu.
Extremely heavy snow is expected starting Christmas night in warned areas (several FT possible).
Plan ahead – MUST carry chains in mountains. Travel in warned areas on Thursday is HIGHLY discouraged. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/7fMqSZlq03
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) December 24, 2019
“Snow levels will fall rapidly and reach the major passes on Thursday, which could result in some major travel impacts,” according to the weather service. “Rainfall will be rather heavy, at least for a few hours at lower elevations, including the lower deserts. Isolated thunderstorms are possible, mainly near the coast, which could enhance rainfall rates locally.”
Meteorologists said winds generated by the instability could gust over 40 mph in places, especially Thursday, as the last vestiges of the system spin eastward.
Wind warnings and flood watches may be posted on Christmas Day, according to the weather service.
In the Riverside metropolitan area, less than a quarter-inch of rainfall is forecast Wednesday — until the late-night hours, when storm cells rolling through the inland region will pick up energy, bringing intense bursts of precipitation.
Southwest Riverside County could receive three-quarters to an inch of rain Wednesday night and Thursday morning, while the Coachella Valley may be on the receiving end of 1 to 2 inches of rain, according to forecasters.
High temperatures in Riverside will hover in the low-to-mid 50s Wednesday and Thursday, with similar highs in the Temecula Valley and the mercury topping out around 60 in the Palm Springs area over the two-day period, according to the weather service.