California forecast: Midweek storm brings widespread rain, mountain snow to SoCal
LOS ANGELES - Get ready for yet another round of widespread rain and mountain snow in Southern California.
A cold front is heading toward the West Coast by the afternoon commute Wednesday into early Thursday and is forecast to dump more precipitation on the region.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service said less than an inch of rain is expected for most of Southern California.
FOX 11 Meteorologist Maria Quiban said the mountain foothills could see up to two inches of rain. With this storm, there’s a 10-20% chance of thunderstorms, heavy showers, strong winds, and even hail due to the cold and unstable air moving in.
The NWS warned of possible thunderstorms. (National Weather Service)
This is troubling news for many residents who continue to recover in the aftermath of recent storms and triggering fears of more mud and debris flows.
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Afternoon highs will hover around 60 degrees Fahrenheit for most of the Southland. However, it will be much cooler in the mountains with afternoon highs closer to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
For the mountain communities, between one and three inches of snow is possible for elevations between 5,000 and 6,000 feet. Meanwhile, those with elevations of 6,000 and up could see an additional three to six inches of snow.
Weather Alerts
Winter Weather Advisory
A Winter Weather Advisory goes into effect for the San Bernardino County Mountains for areas such as Running Springs, Wrightwood, and Big Bear Lake from 4 p.m. Wednesday to noon Thursday. Travel may be difficult on the 2, 18 and 38 Highways.
The NWS also issued the advisory for Frazier Park and the Frazier Mountain communities for elevations above 5,000 feet from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday.
What's next?
Thankfully, the storm will clear out just in time for the weekend. The seven-day forecast shows the return of sunny skies and temperatures closer to 70 degrees. The forecast also shows patchy fog can be expected during the morning hours on Sunday and Monday.
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