Rain, Hail, Snow Arrive In Riverside County; More Expected

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A low-pressure system brought cool temperatures, scattered showers and hail throughout parts of Riverside County Wednesday. The storm was also forecast to bring the possibility of snow in the local mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

"High temperatures today will be well below normal for Southern California," the agency said.

The agency issued a winter weather advisory that will last from 9 a.m. Wednesday to midnight in the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains.

The storm system could bring anywhere from 1 to 4 inches of snow between 5,500 and 7,500 feet Wednesday, with 4 to 8 inches expected above 7,500 feet, forecasters said.

Periods of snow could create travel difficulties to those areas, NWS officials warned.

There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms throughout the day in the mountains, forecasters said.

A chance of scattered showers will persist in the Riverside metropolitan area, Lake Elsinore and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning through Thursday afternoon. The Coachella Valley has a chance of rain until Wednesday evening.

"A few showers will linger into Thursday, followed by dry weather Friday and Saturday," the NWS said. "Another storm from the north will bring another round of showers Sunday into Monday."

Rainfall totals could reach up to a quarter-inch through Thursday in the Riverside metropolitan area, Lake Elsinore and Temecula, while the San Gorgonio Pass could get up to six-tenths of an inch and the Coachella Valley is expected to see less than one-tenth of an inch, according to the National Weather Service.

The Riverside metropolitan area has a 70 percent chance of measurable precipitation Wednesday, while the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning and the Coachella Valley each have a 50 percent chance.

— City News Service contributed to this report