RivCo Weather Update: Heavy Showers, Strong Winds Up to 80 MPH in Area Mountains Forecast for Friday

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA- Occasionally heavy rain and potentially damaging winds will persist in Riverside County for most of the day Friday as a Pacific storm moves through the region.

"Showers and occasional heavy showers will continue this morning before decreasing this afternoon," the National Weather Service said Friday morning. "Strong winds will continue in the mountains, deserts, and coastal areas through the evening."

Widespread rain fell overnight. In a 12-hour period ending at about 4 a.m., some of the largest amounts of rain automated gauges collected included:

• 1.22 inches of rain in Live Oak Canyon
• 1.13 on Mount San Jacinto
• 1.06 inches in Idyllwild
• 1 inch in Pine Cove

Among the amounts recorded elsewhere in the county were:

• .48 of an inch of rain in Beaumont
• .47 in Norco and Railroad Canyon
• .43 in Riverside
• .40 in French Valley
• .39 in Murrieta
• .32 in Temecula and at Whitewater Trout Farm in the Coachella Valley
• .31 at Lake Matthews
• .28 in Moreno-Clark and Portero Canyon
• .23 at March Air Force Base
• .16 in Agave Hill and the Morongo Valley
• .04 in Desert Hot Springs
• .03 at the Thermal Airport

The showers are expected to begin tapering off later Friday as the moisture exits to the east, "leaving residual showers only in the mountains this afternoon," forecasters said. The gusty winds that have been whipping though the region will also die down.

A NWS high wind warning for the mountains, the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass zone, which includes Banning and Desert Hot Springs, is set to expire at 8 p.m. Winds of 20 to 40 miles per hour and gusts of 60 to 80 mph in some areas will be possible.

"Winds are roaring in parts of the mountains and deserts with isolated ridgetop gusts exceeding 70 mph," according to the NWS.

Forecasters said the gusty winds may kick up dust and sand in some areas, skewing visibility.

"Strong winds can make driving difficult, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles and vehicles towing trailers," according to the weather service. "Winds this strong may down trees and power lines and cause property damage."

Rain may also wreak havoc on area roadways and slick conditions are expected during the morning commute.

Cooler, drier weather is expected after the storm passes, according to the weather service.

– City News Service contributed to this report.