Southern California storm: Cool winds are blowing. Rain, thunderstorms and snow are expected to follow

Warm spring temperatures gave way to cooler weather Thursday as a cold storm moved into Southern California, bringing cloudy skies along with chances of showers and thunderstorms, as well as snow in low mountain elevations.

The system “will bring a short period — three hours or less — of mostly light precipitation with amounts mostly under a tenth of an inch” Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service. “However, future bands of precipitation overnight into Friday will become increasingly convective as the colder air arrives. Snow levels will be lowering rapidly as well, down from around 6,000 feet (Thursday) to as low as 2,500 to 3,000 feet later (Thursday night) into Friday.”

Overall rainfall amounts are expected to be relatively low, with most areas receiving less than a half-inch. Some mountain areas could get about an inch, as could areas where thunderstorms might develop, most notably the Antelope Valley.

“Snow will be the big talking point with this system, which will likely bring the lowest snow levels of the season,” forecasters said. “Snow levels will start out at 5,000 feet (Thursday) afternoon, but will plummet to 3,000 feet (Thursday) evening and will remain near that level Friday. Snow may fall as low as 2,500 feet under any convective burst.”

A winter storm warning will be in effect until 11 p.m. Friday in the San Gabriel Mountains and the 14 Freeway corridor, with forecasters predicting possible accumulations of 10 inches above 6,000 feet, 3 to 6 inches as low as 5,000 feet and 3 inches at 3,000 feet — all accompanied by winds gusting up to 45 mph.

A less severe winter weather advisory will be in effect until 11 p.m. Friday for the Antelope Valley foothills and the 5 Freeway corridor. Those areas could receive up to 3 inches of snow.

“The stormy weather is expected to start tapering off Friday evening with dry weather expected by sunrise Saturday morning,” according to the NWS. “… However, temperatures will remain below normal, and actually be quite chilly in the morning, especially away from the coast where overnight lows will be in the 30s and 40s, and even cooler in the mountains.”

Source: Orange County Register