Officials Eyeing Burn Areas As Storm Bears Down On Pass Area

SAN GORGONIO PASS AREA, CA — The winter storm bearing down on the Pass Area is bringing rain, hail, gusty winds, and snow down to the 3,000-foot level, but as of Wednesday morning the Beaumont Police Department reported that predicted rainfall rates are below the thresholds for mud and debris flows in burn scar areas.

"However, situations can change quickly, so we encourage those in areas prone to urban flooding or in areas where runoff may be increased due to recent fires to take steps now to protect your homes and property," the department posted on social media.

Residents can find storm preparedness tips and information at Beaumontca.gov/StormReady.

The cold front is expected to bring showers and a chance of thunderstorms to the area through Friday — with a winter storm warning in effect for the mountains through 10 p.m. Thursday, bringing a forecast of heavy snow.

A wind advisory is in effect in Banning through 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The National Weather Service warned of possible snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches in the mountains between 3,000 and 4,000 feet; 6 to 12 inches between 4,000 and 5,000 feet; and 12 to 20 inches above 5,000 feet. In addition, local amounts of between 24 and 28 inches are possible for favored locations, primarily above 6,000 feet, the National Weather Service said.

The heaviest snow expected on Wednesday.

"Significant travel impacts are possible for major mountain passes, including Cajon Pass and I-8," the weather service said. "Areas of dense fog will significantly reduce visibility at times, making travel more hazardous. Locally strong west winds with gusts 35 to 50 mph may impact some mountain areas. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds may result in some downed tree limbs and power outages."

For lower-elevation areas, rain is in the forecast through Friday, tapering off Friday night.

"Rain will become likely across all but southern and eastern L.A. County by late Tuesday night, where there will be a chance of rain, then rain is expected across the region Wednesday," according to the NWS.

Forecasters said the rain will be heavy at times on Wednesday.

"Rainfall totals are generally expected to average one-half to one inch, except locally 1.5 inches or possibly higher in the foothills and mountains below the snow level," according to the NWS.
Dry weather is expected to return by Friday night and continue through the weekend.

Sign up for Riverside County’s alerting system, Alert RivCo, at www.RivCoReady.org/AlertRivCo.

—City News Service contributed to this report.