A storm system that’s set to sweep across the Inland Empire Thursday evening and Friday will bring wind, rain and snow, but only the lighter variety, according to the National Weather Service.
“The greatest coverage of showers is expected on Friday,” the NWS said in a statement. “Rainfall … is expected to range from one-tenth to locally one-quarter inch near the coast, to one-third to one-half inch in the mountains, locally to one inch.”
Forecasters said that a trough of low pressure sliding down from the Pacific Northwest will reach the region after midnight, generating sporadic precipitation that will intensify going into Friday morning.
The system is moving at a fast clip and will largely exit to the east by Friday night, according to the NWS.
The high moisture content and colder temperatures associated with the trough will generate snowfall of up to six inches above 5,500 feet, meteorologists said.
“There will be periods of strong and gusty west winds for late Thursday night and Friday, with the stronger gusts for the mountains and deserts of 35 to 45 mph,” the NWS stated.
The region will return to dry weather and seasonable temperatures for most of next week, according to the agency.
High temps in the Riverside metropolitan area will settle in the mid 70s Thursday, dropping to the low 60s Friday and Saturday, and mid 60s Sunday and Monday. Lows will be in the low 40s through the weekend.
In the Coachella Valley, the daytime mercury will be close to 80 Thursday and in the mid-60s through the weekend, with lows generally in the mid-40s, while the Temecula Valley will peak in the mid 70s Thursday, followed by highs in the upper 50s Friday and Saturday, with gradual warming Sunday and Monday. Lows will be in the upper 30s through the weekend, according to the NWS.