Rainfall is expected throughout Riverside County next week, lasting at least through Christmas Day and creating difficult travel conditions, forecasters said Saturday.
“A low pressure system and associated weak to moderate Atmospheric River will bring widespread heavy rain and high elevation mountain snow late Tuesday into Christmas Day,” the National Weather Service announced.
“Gusty south winds are also expected across the coastal areas, valleys, and the San Bernardino Mountains into the adjacent desert foothills,” the NWS added. “Multiple days of precipitation, which will likely be heavy at times, is bringing a risk of flooding and difficult travel conditions around the holiday.”
In the downtown Riverside, Temecula and Hemet areas, showers were expected to start Tuesday evening, while in the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs, rain was predicted to arrive by Wednesday morning.
The snow level was expected to remain above 8,000 feet through Christmas morning.
Temperatures were expected to be in the 70s through Monday, then drop to the mid-60s by Wednesday and stay that way for the rest of the week. The Coachella Valley might experience highs in low 80s through Monday, dropping to the low 70s Tuesday through Friday, according to the NWS.