Snow, Rain Totals In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The first measurable precipitation of the winter season fell through the weekend across the Inland Empire, moistening a previously bone dry region and leaving snowfall at higher elevations.

As of Monday afternoon, Riverside Municipal Airport reported 0.38 inches of rain, while the south edge of the city recorded 0.59 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Temecula netted 0.79 inches and nearby French Valley Airport recorded .60 inches.

The rainfall totals were much leaner in the eastern half of Riverside County, with Whitewater at 0.15 inches and Palm Springs International Airport at 0.09 inches.

At mile-high altitudes, snow covered the ground by the start of the week. Idyllwild recorded four inches of powder, but its immediate neighbor along Highway 243, Pine Cove, reported five inches, the NWS said.

The storm system that arrived Saturday night had largely exited to the east by late Monday afternoon, though scattered showers remained in the forecast through all of Tuesday. However, the chance of precipitation for the inland region Tuesday was 20%.

Forecasters said dry conditions will make a quick comeback by midweek, and a warming trend is expected to ensue from Thursday to Sunday.

In the Riverside metropolitan area, the daytime mercury will hover in the low 60s Tuesday to Thursday, with lows in the upper 30s. From Friday to Sunday, highs will gradually climb into the mid 70s, with nighttime temps in the mid 40s.

In the Coachella Valley, the highs will peak in the mid 60s and the lows fall into the mid 40s Tuesday to Thursday, while highs Friday to Sunday will reach the upper 70s and lows in the mid to upper 50s.

The temperature band in the Temecula Valley for the remainder of the week will be virtually identical to Riverside metro.