Firefighters were on the scene of multiple mudslides in San Jacinto Thursday that trapped occupants of several vehicles, as a late-winter rainstorm moved through the Inland Empire.
The mudslides were first reported around 6:05 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Soboba Road and Chabela Drive, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Members of the department’s Swift Water Rescue Team helped free six people, all of whom were released after receiving on-site paramedic evaluations.
Soboba Road was closed between Chabela Drive and State/Gilman Springs while crews attempted to disperse the mud flow and remove vehicles from the street.
A winter storm warning was issued for parts of Riverside County in mountain communities until 11 p.m. Thursday, with snow levels dropping to 3,000 feet and expected wind gusts up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
A flood watch remained in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday for most of Riverside County, and a winter storm warning was in effect until 11 p.m. for the mountains.
A wind advisory was in effect until 11 p.m. Thursday for the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.
“The cold nature of the storm aloft also increases the chances of thunderstorms across the area, leading to the potential of locally heavy rain and flooding,” the NWS said Wednesday. “The chances for exceeding 2 inches are 70% to 90% for the mountains and 40% to 50% for portions of the valleys. There is even a 30% to 50% chance of rainfall totals exceeding 4 inches of rain on the coastal slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains.”
Snow levels will drop to as low as 3,000 feet by Thursday night or Friday morning, when the disturbance spins eastward, according to meteorologists.
“Estimated snowfall totals above 6,500 feet are 8 to 12 inches, with locally up to 24 inches possible above 7,500 feet,” the NWS said.
Clear and mild conditions are forecast for the weekend.