Heavy Rain, Wind, Snow Expected Near Lake Elsinore Thanksgiving

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Gusty winds in the Riverside County mountains Wednesday morning will precede significant rain showers throughout Southern California Wednesday, with a cold storm expected to make road conditions challenging for holiday travelers through the end of the week. What's more, the Lake Elsinore area is under a flash flood watch through the holiday, and plenty of snow is expected in the Riverside County mountains nearby.

Wind gusts reaching 35-45 mph are expected in the mountains this morning before the first front of the storm comes through Wednesday afternoon, National Weather Service meteorologist Miguel Miller said.

Moderate to heavy rain showers are expected beginning Wednesday afternoon and continuing through the evening, Miller said.

And on this busy travel day, forecasters warn that extra delays are likely.

"The storm is likely to impact holiday travel significantly," the NWS said Wednesday

In Lake Elsinore in particular, here's what the NWS is predicting for the coming days:

Today
Showers. High near 54. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight
Showers. Low around 43. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thanksgiving Day
Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 50. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 40. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then a chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.

There might be a break in the rainfall on Thursday morning before the second front of the storm moves through the region on Thursday afternoon, but any break will be brief, the meteorologist said.

A flash flood warning will last until Thursday evening in the Riverside metropolitan area, the Riverside County mountains, the Inland Empire and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.

Precipitation totals through Friday could reach 4 inches in the Riverside County mountains, 1.5 to 2 inches in the Riverside metropolitan area and less than two-thirds of an inch in the Coachella Valley, Miller said.

"Current forecasts are not expected to reach thresholds for significant mud and debris flows in recent burn scar areas, but residents are advised to be ready should conditions change," the Riverside Emergency Management Department said in a statement on its website.

A winter storm warning will be in effect until 10 p.m. Friday in the Riverside County and San Bernardino County mountains above 3,000 feet.

"If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of emergency," NWS officials warned.

Snow levels will remain above 4,500 feet through Wednesday night, then drop to about 3,500 feet by Thursday night, Miller said.

Mount San Jacinto in Idyllwild could get up to 3 feet of snow at its highest peaks by the time the storm system makes its exit by Friday night, Miller said.

Snow levels are expected to bottom out at 3,000 feet on Friday morning before gradually rising as the storm leaves the region, the meteorologist said.

Thunderstorms will also be possible Wednesday evening through Friday morning in the Riverside County mountains, the Riverside metropolitan area and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, forecasters said.

High temperatures Wednesday could reach 57 degrees in Riverside, 62 in the San Gorgonio Pass, 64 in the Coachella Valley, and 53 in Temecula and 55 in Hemet.

— City News Service contributed to this report.