More Snow, Rain Expected As Storm Holds Near Banning, Beaumont

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A strong winter storm that arrived in the Inland Empire Christmas night generated rain and snowfall Thursday, forcing the closure of several roads due to flooding. And it's not done.

The National Weather Service extended a winter storm warning to 6 a.m. Friday as inclement conditions persist throughout the region, disrupting travel.

"A low pressure system moving across Southern California will keep unsettled and wintery weather over parts of the area through the night," the NWS said in its forecast discussion on Thursday afternoon. "The storm will move east on Friday, with dry and warmer weather on tap for most of the weekend. Another storm system from the north could bring more precipitation Sunday night through New Years Eve, but the track of the storm and precipitation we may receive is uncertain."

According to the NWS, as of 2 p.m. Thursday, the Riverside metropolitan area had received roughly an inch of precipitation, while French Valley Airport near Murrieta had recorded just under an inch and Palm Springs International Airport had received about three-quarters of an inch.

The Banning Pass had recorded more than an inch of precipitation, but some of that was frozen, in the form of snow, according to the NWS. Chain controls were in effect Thursday morning along state Route 74 near Mountain Center because of snowfall.

The Cajon Pass north of San Bernardino was blanketed with snow in the predawn hours, and snow plows couldn't keep up, prompting the California Highway Patrol to shut down both sides of the freeway at the I-215/I-15 interchange.

Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga said the southbound side of the 15 was intermittently opened after daybreak, but about 9 a.m., another full closure was put into effect. Traffic emanating from Riverside County was turned back south due to the northbound closure, CHP Officer Dan Olivas told City News Service.

Kasinga said at 2:45 p.m., both sides of I-15 were reopened, but she warned that overnight closures may be required if the roadway surfaces ice over.

"It just depends on conditions and traffic," she told City News Service.

Flooding led to four roads being shut down in unincorporated areas of Riverside County, according to the county Department of Transportation.

Pico Avenue between Central Avenue and Nuevo Road in Nuevo was closed at 7:20 a.m. after pools of water created hazards, officials said. An hour later, Palomar Road between Benigini Avenue and Patti Lane near Menifee was closed due to flooding, and at 11 a.m., Painted Canyon Road between Box Canyon Road and Skeleton Canyon in Mecca was also coned off when water flowed over the road, making it impassable, according to the Department of Transportation.

Early in the afternoon in Whitewater, Indian Canyon Drive near Interstate 10 was closed due to flooding.

The center mass of the storm was moving steadily east by mid- afternoon. However, according to the Weather Service, isolated downpours remain possible as the instability lingers on the back side of the system.

"This could result in additional snow accumulation in the high deserts and San Bernardino County Mountains," the NWS stated. "Additional light to moderate showers may wrap farther to the south over the Riverside and San Diego County mountains and deserts overnight."

Snow levels were predicted as low as 3,000 feet.

A wind advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. for the inland area, with gusts up to 45 mph possible, meteorologists said.

Low temperatures Thursday evening in the Riverside metropolitan area will be in the upper 30s, with highs Friday in the upper 50s, forecasters said. The Temecula Valley can expect generally the same, while the Palm Springs area will see lows around 40 degrees and highs in the low 60s Friday.

A weaker storm system is tracking toward the region from the northwest and is expected to make landfall Sunday night or early Monday morning, producing mostly light precipitation, according to the NWS.

As for Banning in particular, here's what the NWS says you can expect in the coming days:

Thursday Afternoon
A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night
A chance of rain and snow showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Light southwest wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 37. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 39.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.

Sunday Night
A chance of rain after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Monday
A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Breezy.

Monday Night
A chance of showers. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Breezy.

— City News Service contributed to this report