Christmas Week Forecast For Palm Desert: When Is The Rain Coming? How Much Will We Get?

PALM DESERT, CA — Rainfall is expected throughout Riverside County this week, lasting at least through Christmas Day and creating difficult travel conditions, forecasters said. Up to 1.5 to 2 inches of rain were expected in the Coachella Valley.

"A pattern change and significant precipitation is still on tap midweek as a large upper-level trough amplifies off the West Coast," the National Weather Service announced.

"Gusty southerly winds are expected across the area with 60-70% chance of wind gusts exceeding 35 mph along the coast Tuesday night into Wednesday," the NWS added.

In the downtown Riverside, Temecula and Hemet areas, showers were expected to start Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, in the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs, rain was forecast to arrive by Wednesday morning.

"Widespread moderate to heavy rainfall and a slight chance of thunderstorms Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the potential for roadway flooding and localized flash flooding," the NWS warned.

The snow level was expected to remain above 8,000 feet through Christmas morning.

Temperatures were expected to be in the 70s through Monday, then drop to the mid-60s by Wednesday and remain there for the rest of the week. The Coachella Valley might experience highs in the low 80s through Monday, falling to the low 70s Tuesday through Friday, according to the NWS.

Forecasters predicted additional chances of showers Friday through Sunday with lower snow levels, creating slick conditions on mountain highways, according to the NWS.

In Palm Desert, your Christmas Week Weather is as follows, according to the National Weather Service:

Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Monday night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.

Tuesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night
A chance of rain after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday
Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night
Rain. Low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Christmas Day
A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Friday
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66.

Friday Night
A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Saturday
A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 45.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 67.