Rain, winds to wallop parts of Southern California

Heavy rain and high winds are expected to wallop parts of Southern California Saturday night and Sunday as a winter storm rolls in from the Pacific Northwest.

While showers could start in some places late Saturday afternoon, “It looks like the bulk of the rain will fall on Sunday, as a cold front sweeps across the region,” the National Weather Service said. “Rainfall should be most widespread and locally heavy near the time of frontal passage.”

The agency posted a flood watch in the Inland Empire from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, mainly within the San Gorgonio Pass and around the mountain slopes in the San Bernardino National Forest, where “excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying flood-prone locations.”

Another flash flood watch is in place for Los Angeles County mountain regions, particularly for areas near the Fish Fire and Lake Fire burn scar areas, forecasters said.

Rainfall is anticipated to hit L.A. County as early as Saturday afternoon. The mountains could see rates of a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch an hour Saturday night and most of Sunday. Rainfall averages are forecast at 1 to 2 inches in coastal and valley areas, while the foothill and mountain areas are projected at 2 to 6 inches, according to the NWS.

The rain is expected to be heaviest over Los Angeles from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday, forecasters said.

“Rain will turn to showers by Sunday afternoon, but showers will likely remain quite numerous through Sunday night,” forecasters said.

Most areas in Orange County should see more than an inch of rainfall, with more than 2 inches in the mountains, meteorologist Stefanie Sullivan said.

A wind advisory was issued for the Inland Empire from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, with the NWS noting that southwest winds of 15 to 25 mph are anticipated, with gusts 50 mph to 70 mph in some locations.

In Orange County, a wind advisory will be in effect from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sullivan said.

Alert RivCo message sent: Significant rains forecast to impact area. Anyone living in, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, or playing in the Santa Ana river bottom or channels leading to it should move to higher ground now. Heavy rains may result in dangerous water flows @RivCoNow pic.twitter.com/Ht5XOFcgsa

— RivCoReady (@RivCoReady) December 10, 2022

In L.A. County, winds of 20 mph to 40 mph are anticipated, with gusts up to 60 mph, forecasters said.

According to prognostication charts published by the NWS, the inclement weather will have lingering impacts going into Monday, mostly at higher elevations.

“A high snow level, over 7,000 feet initially, will keep the main heavy snow threat above 6,500 feet, but some snow will accumulate at lower elevations, between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, through Monday,” the Weather Service said. “Showers will be more scattered behind the front through Monday night.”

A cold snap will ensue, with high temperatures in the Riverside metropolitan area stalling in the mid 50s on Sunday and barely climbing above 50 degrees on Monday, remaining below 60 for the remainder of next week, according to forecasters. Lows will drop into the 30s on Sunday night and trend below 40 going into the following weekend.

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