Rain To Slam Pass Area, Inland Empire Ahead Of New Year: Forecast

BANNING, CA — The National Weather Service has forecast at least two storms to blow across Riverside County and the Inland Empire into New Year's weekend and beyond.

Light rain will begin the storm early Wednesday, with just under one inch of rain forecast for the valleys and up to 1.25 inches of rain predicted for the mountains. As temperatures fall across the region, snow levels were expected to lower to 6,500 to 7,500 feet as the front tapers off, they said.

Most of Wednesday's snowfall was expected at the tail end of the first storm, according to meteorologists. Snow would fall on the highest peaks of the San Bernardino and Riverside mountains, with only trace amounts down at 7,000 feet.

Rain would give way to gusty southwest-to-west winds, with gusts of up to 45-55 mph along the mountain ridges and upper desert slopes. In other areas, residents should expect gusts from 25-40 mph.

Over New Year's Weekend, the largest amount of rain was expected Saturday night into Sunday morning, tapering off through the day.

"While moisture with this system isn't as deep as the first, the storm is much stronger," meteorologists said. Snow was expected to reach as low as 6,000 feet by Sunday morning with accumulations that could impact New Year's Day travel down the mountain roads.

Given the current forecast, the second will be the wetter of the two storm systems, according to the NWS report, adding that there is potential for a third storm system to begin early next week.

"One thing that is certain is that we will remain in a cool and unsettled weather pattern through much of next week," they said.

BANNING FORECAST:

Showers. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 49. West wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday
A slight chance of showers after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Friday Night
A slight chance of showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Saturday
A chance of showers, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.

Saturday Night
Showers, mainly before 4am. The rain could be heavy at times. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

New Year's Day
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

Monday Night
A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Tuesday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 53.