A winter weather warning is in effect Wednesday for parts of Riverside County in the mountain communities.
The winter weather warning will be in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday until 10 a.m. Friday with heavy snow between 2 and 4 inches expected at elevations above 5,000 feet, and 4 to 8 inches above 6,000 feet. Wind gusts are expected to be as high as 60 mph in mountain areas.
The National Weather Service is warning travel could be very difficult and hazardous conditions could impact commutes on Thursday.
The National Weather Service said that an “atmospheric river” will drop down from the Pacific Northwest and flow across Southern California beginning Wednesday night, lingering into Friday morning.
“There are some differences in the depth and timing of the main trough (of low pressure) Wednesday into Thursday,” the agency said in a statement. “In general, there is a 60-75% chance of at least .5 inches of rain for the coasts and valleys. For the high deserts, there is a 20-45% chance of at least .25 inches. Snow levels will be upwards of 7,000 feet at the onset of precipitation Wednesday evening, quickly falling to around 4,500 feet by Thursday morning and as low as 3,500 feet on Friday morning.”
Forecasters said Interstate 15 through the Cajon Pass might be impacted by the wintry weather Thursday night into Friday.
“There is also some indication that an isolated thunderstorm or two could develop as cold air aloft moves into the area and vorticity moves through the main flow … both Wednesday evening and Thursday,” the NWS stated.
Thunderstorm cells developed in the Riverside metropolitan area Sunday night as the past weekend’s storm activity subsided.
After the upcoming storm system exits Friday, a dome of high pressure will deliver clear and warmer conditions for the weekend, but the Weather Service said more precipitation may arrive at the start of next week.