WEATHER: Storm Bringing Wind, Some Rain

A storm from the north brought rain, strong winds and colder temperatures to Riverside County today.

"A low pressure system developing over southwestern British Columbia will move southward through the western states Sunday and today, then eastward through the Great Basin and Rockies Tuesday and Wednesday," according to the National Weather Service. "The main impacts for extreme Southwest California are expected for late (Sunday) through early Tuesday."

The agency said rainfall would gradually spread southward, with the main period of more significant precipitation along and west of the mountains late this afternoon and evening. Rainfall amounts were expected to top out at up to an inch or two in the mountains.

"Bands of heavier showers could cause local mud and debris flows in recently burned areas, mainly this evening," an NWS advisory said.

Winds from the storm were expected to be strongest in the mountains and Coachella Valley, where a high wind warning was in effect until 8 a.m. Tuesday. A high wind warning means hazardous sustained winds of at least 40 miles per hour or gusts of 58 mph or greater are expected or occurring.

In issuing the warning, the weather service said winds would be strongest and most widespread today, especially near mountain ridges, along desert mountain slopes and into adjacent desert areas.

"The winds will make driving difficult, especially for motorists with high profile vehicles," an NWS advisory said. "Watch for broken tree limbs."

Temperatures throughout the county today were expected to be 10 to 15 degrees below average for the time of year, meaning they'd be in the upper 50s to mid-60s in the valleys, 30s and 40s in the mountains, 50s in the upper deserts and 70s in the lower deserts.

According to the weather service, the snow level should lower to 5,000 to 5,500 feet tonight into early Tuesday, with several inches of snowfall possible above 5,500 feet. Due to the chance of snow, a winter weather advisory was scheduled for mountain areas above 5,500 feet from 5 this morning to 11 a.m. Tuesday. --City News Service