Rainfall is expected throughout Riverside County this week, lasting at least through Christmas Day and creating difficult travel conditions, forecasters said.
“A pattern change and significant precipitation is still on tap midweek as a large upper level trough amplifies off the West Coast,” the National Weather Service announced.
“Gusty southerly winds are expected across the area with 60-70% chance of wind gusts exceeding 35 mph along the coast Tuesday night into Wednesday,” the NWS added.
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.
“Widespread moderate to heavy rainfall and a slight chance of thunderstorms Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the potential for roadway flooding and localized flash flooding,” the NWS warned.
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 the low 80s through Monday, dropping to the low 70s Tuesday through Friday, according to the NWS.
Forecasters predicted additional chances of showers Friday through Sunday with lower snow levels, creating slick conditions on mountain highways, according to the NWS.