Widespread rain showers are in the forecast for the Inland Empire Friday, but the wet weather will make a fast exit, followed by a warming trend and possibly a Santa Ana wind event going into next week.
According to the National Weather Service, a trough of low pressure dragging across Southern California will usher in light to moderate downpours during the predawn hours, likely lasting until early afternoon.
“Overall, we are maintaining general rainfall totals between one-fourth and a half-inch, with local amounts around one-inch in the mountains, and the bulk of that between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. Friday,” the NWS stated. “Hourly rainfall could be up to around .15 inches.”
For western Riverside County, the chances of precipitation are up to 70%, with the rainfall potential diminishing to 30% farther east, meteorologists said.
The system will break up as the front slides into Arizona, with partly cloudy conditions late Friday and sunshine for the weekend, according to forecasters.
High temperatures in the Riverside metropolitan area Friday are not expected to top 70 degrees, with lows around 50. In the Temecula Valley, highs will hover in the mid-60s, with lows also around 50, while in the Coachella Valley, peak temps were predicted to be in the low 80s, and lows in the upper 50s.
Going into Monday, a cold front pushing into the Great Basin in Nevada and Utah will generate cyclonic activity that’s expected to churn up “stronger winds,” according to the Weather Service.
“If the low moves fast enough and far enough east, there could be some Santa Ana winds behind it Tuesday, possibly lingering into Wednesday,” the NWS said.
No fire watches or warnings had been posted as of Thursday afternoon.