Southern California Weather: Rain and Snow Expected Thursday

Current Conditions and Immediate Forecast

• ☀️ While Southern California enjoys a pleasant, sunny day today, this calm is short-lived.
• ⛈️ A new storm system is poised to bring rain and mountain snow starting tonight and continuing through Thursday.

Snowfall Accumulation in Mountains

• 🌨️ Snow levels are expected to range between 3,000 to 4,500 feet from today into Thursday.
• 🏔️ Over the past three days, significant snowfall has already accumulated in mountain areas: 20-38 inches at 6,600-8,000 feet, 18-36 inches at Snow Summit, 10-24 inches at Snow Valley, and 14 inches in Wrightwood.
• ⚠️ A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until Friday morning at 7:00 AM, with Thursday predicted to be a heavy snow day for many mountain communities.

Wind and Precipitation Details

• 💨 Winds are currently coming from the southwest, with gusts up to 30-40 mph in Barstow and Victorville.
• 🌬️ A Wind Advisory is in place for Orange County and the Inland Empire until 4:00 PM today, with gusts up to 25-32 mph.
• 🌧️ Moisture is circulating around the entire state, with another low-pressure area expected to descend on Southern California by Thursday morning.

Thursday's Storm Impact

• ☁️ Thursday will start with mostly cloudy skies and moisture, bringing rain to lower elevations and continued snow to the mountains.
• ❄️ Snow levels could drop to 3,000 feet by Thursday morning, with heavy snow expected in mountain communities throughout the day and into Thursday night.
• 🌊 Rain is anticipated to ease up by the afternoon, but snow will persist in the mountains.

Outlook for Friday and the Weekend

• ☀️ By Friday morning, cloud cover will persist, but moisture should dissipate, leading to clear skies and sunshine by Friday afternoon.
• ⛷️ The weekend is forecast to be dry, offering opportunities for skiing and snowboarding with fresh snow.
• 🌡️ Temperatures are expected to rise into the 60s and 70s for the weekend and into Monday, with Inland Empire and Orange County areas potentially reaching the mid to upper 70s.
• ☁️ A slight chance of cloud cover may return by Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week, particularly for foothill and mountain communities.