Flood Watch Issued For Western Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — As another storm series begins moving across Riverside County this week, the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the region.

Light rain and windy conditions were prevailing Tuesday afternoon, but most of the rain will fall Wednesday evening through Thursday, according to the NWS.

"Rainfall rates during heavier showers will likely range from 0.3"-0.5" per hour, with about a 50% chance of exceeding 0.5" per hour," the NWS reported.

Total rainfall in western Riverside County could reach 1.25 inches.

A Flood Watch is in effect from 10 p.m. New Year's Eve through 10 p.m. New Year's Day across all of western Riverside County.

"A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding," though it doesn't mean flooding is certain, according to the NWS.

There will be a break in the precipitation on Friday, with another storm moving in over the weekend, though that system is expected to bring only light precipitation, the NWS reported.

As of 12 p.m. Dec. 30, total year-to-date rainfall is as follows in Riverside County (Data from the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. The annual period starts July 1.):

• Beaumont: 5 inches
• Lake Elsinore: 4.22 inches
• Murrieta: 5.98 inches
• Palm Springs: 3.31 inches
• Riverside: 6.93
• Temecula: 5.21 inches