Cooldown, Thunderstorms Coming to Southern California This Weekend – Press Enterprise

Just days after Southern California boasted some of the hottest spots in the country, significant cooling with rain and thunderstorms is expected to cool the region through the weekend, weather forecasters said Wednesday.

As of Thursday, March 3, a temperature shift of about 10 degrees is expected across the region, with much of inland Southern California feeling high temperatures in the low 70s and coastal regions in the mid 60s, said Samantha Connolly, meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in San Diego. Regional mountains can expect highs in the 50s, said Kristan Lund, meteorologist at the NWS Los Angeles office.

From Thursday evening through Friday, March 4, a “wet” storm system is expected to shower lower areas of the Inland Empire and inland Orange County with a projected half inch to an inch of rainfall, Connolly said. In Los Angeles County, precipitation levels in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys are expected to be slightly lower, with a quarter-inch to three-quarters of an inch forecast, Lund said.

Snow is also expected to accumulate in the San Gabriel Mountains overnight through Friday, Lund said.

Thunderstorms with hail potential are expected across the region Thursday evening through Friday, both forecasters said. Wind gusts are expected to be between 20 and 25 miles per hour, Connolly said.

Residents are reminded to stay indoors during thunderstorms or hail, Lund said.

“If you can hear thunder, you’re not safe,” Lund said.

High temperatures on Friday are expected to mainly fall below 60 degrees, both forecasters said. While rain is expected to peak overnight, according to Connolly, showers are projected on Friday.

On Saturday, March 5, a second, colder storm system that produces less rain at lower elevations is expected to hit the region through Sunday, March 6, Connolly said. This system is expected to affect mountains primarily, with measurable precipitation in foothills and valleys expected to be as little as a tenth of an inch, she said.

Temperatures will begin to recover to seasonal averages on Monday, March 7, as temperatures are expected to rise by 5 to 10 degrees, Connolly said.

The NWS forecasts the following high temperatures for Thursday 3 March:

Dana Point: 64Fullerton: 71Long Beach: 65Downtown Los Angeles: 69San Fernando Valley: 71San Bernardino: 76Torrance: 66Redlands: 75Riverside: 76Whittier: 70

The weather was relatively warm on Tuesday, with Big Bear reaching 68 degrees, breaking the old record for the date of 67 set in 1972.