When Will It Rain In Southwest RivCo President's Day Weekend?

TEMECULA, CA — Another February storm system is set to move through the Southwest Riverside County early next week, though meteorologists remain uncertain of how much precipitation is heading to the area.

As we head into the weekend, conditions are expected to remain dry, with temperatures even potentially slipping above normal on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. But things will start cooling down slightly on Saturday when the leading edge of the storm system will begin to impact the Central Coast by late Saturday.

Little rain is anticipated in the Southland on Saturday, and if any does fall, it would likely be less than one-tenth of an inch, according to the NWS.

The brunt of the storm front is expected to arrive Sunday night and continue through Wednesday, with "the potential for multiple rounds of heavy showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms to affect the region," forecasters said.

The total amount of rain expected to fall remained uncertain as of Thursday. In the more heavily impacted Central Coast, as much as 5 inches was being anticipated in lower elevations, and up to 8 inches in mountains and foothills, but Los Angeles-area totals were expected to be lower depending on the track of the storm system.

Initial predictions call for a total of between 2 and 3 inches in many portions of the Southland between Sunday night and Wednesday, but forecasters said "it still may be a few days from now before greater confidence can be ascertained."

The NWS noted that while the next system won't rival the record-breaking rains that fell earlier this month, the fact that the area is already saturated could make some areas more prone to flooding.

"The bottom-line message is that everyone is encouraged to closely monitor the latest information from the National Weather Service, as there exists potential for major hydrological impacts Sunday night through Wednesday," forecasters said.

"The recent extreme rainfall totals favor more hydrological impact from smaller subsequent precipitation amounts."

According to the National Weather Service, here is the upcoming forecast for Southwest Riverside County:

Friday
Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Friday night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 68. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Washington's Birthday
A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Tuesday
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.

Tuesday Night
Showers likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Wednesday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 60.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.