Light rain coming to Southern California, with much colder temps and mountain snow later this week
Rain showers and thunderstorms will be moving into the South Coast area of California over Wednesday, and rain will continue to increase Tuesday, with the chance of rain remaining at least through Wednesday morning. Rain showers are expected in this area through the evening. A high wave is also bringing some rain to the coast. This wave is traveling from the West Bay area of San Mateo County to the northern border of Los Angeles County. Another wave is moving in from the south, and this wave will bring rain to the mountains. This wave is pushing across the mountains from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and will reach the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. A winter storm watch is in effect for most of Southern California.
A winter storm watch is in effect for most areas of Southern California where there is a high probability of snow accumulation overnight Wednesday. The watch indicates that a winter storm or storm capable of causing significant travel disruption or power outages will be present as of 6 a.m.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Los Angeles has issued a Winter Storm Watch for most areas of Southern California through 6 a.m. Wednesday. The Winter Storm Watch indicates that the risk of snow accumulation and potential for locally significant winter weather and freezing rain accumulations in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and its surrounding areas is increasing and may quickly increase. The warning is in effect for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Imperial and Inyo counties. The warning area also includes the San Fernando Valley, the Sierra foothills, and portions of San Diego County where a winter weather, freezing rain and/or ice accumulations are possible. The forecast for this event has been expanded from a Winter Weather Advisory to a Winter Storm Watch.
In the San Diego County area, a Winter Storm Watch appears in effect for most of San Diego County, including southern sections of the county, through midnight Tuesday. The Winter Storm Watch area includes parts of southern San Diego, northeastern San Onofre, and San Diego Mountain resorts, where locally significant accumulations and/or periods of freezing rain/ice warnings may occur.