The second of three storms is expected to sweep into the region today (Friday)
... bringing heavier precipitation than yesterday's storm throughout Riverside
County.
The Riverside County Emergency Management Department issued mandatory
evacuation orders early yesterday morning for numerous communities near the
recent Holy Fire burn area because of the increased risk of debris flows ...
but officials cancelled all evacuation orders at 6 last night ... with the
rainfall expected to hold off until tonight.
In a 24-hour period ending around 3 this morning, Temecula had received the highest rainfall in western Riverside County at point 6-3 inches. Beaumont recorded point 55 inches ... Lake Elsinore point-39 inches ... Riverside Municipal Airport about point-3-4
inches and Palm Springs about point 1-9 inches.
Partly cloudy skies are forecast throughout the county today before
the most severe of the three storms sweeps into the region tonight. The
National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch that will last from
Saturday morning through Saturday evening for the county mountains ... valleys
... the Riverside metropolitan area and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning. The
Coachella Valley is not included in the flash flood watch.
That second Pacific trough will dominate Southern California from late tonight to Saturday night.
``This will be a larger and slower-moving system, and more widespread
and heavier precipitation is expected, along with periods of strong gusty
southwest to west winds,'' according to the NWS. ``Snow levels will lower to
around 5,500 feet for Saturday afternoon and evening, with snowfall totals
exceeding one foot possible above 7,000 feet.''
Highs in the Riverside metropolitan area will hover in the upper 50s,
while daytime temperatures in Coachella Valley communities will be in the low
60s, according to forecasters.
Rainfall in western Riverside County Saturday could range from 1 to 3
inches, while the deserts may receive 1 to 1.5 inches. Isolated locally heavy
downpours are possible, and flash flood warnings may be issued, according to
the Weather Service.
The final storm in the series is anticipated Sunday night into Monday,
but ``it is not expected to be as strong as the storm on Saturday,''
according to the NWS.
