Back-To-Back Storms Bringing Unseasonably Cold Weather To Southwest Riverside

Back-to-back storm fronts are set to hit the region beginning late tonight, and unseasonably cold temperatures will arrive with them.

The first storm is moving down from Central California and is forecast to arrive in Southwest Riverside late tonight and Tuesday. The second cold system will follow late Tuesday and Wednesday.

Both fronts will bring periods of rain to Southwest Riverside, as well as snow to local mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

“The brunt of the rain and mountain snow will fall on Tuesday. Then a second round of moisture will move across the region on Wednesday. Rainfall totals from these two systems will range between a quarter- and half-inch along the coast and in the Inland Empire and valleys,” according to the National Weather Service.

The blustery weather will reinforce cold air that’s already in place over the region. Temperatures will remain 5 to 15 degrees colder than normal in Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and across Southern California’s inland valleys.

Locally, daytime highs Tuesday and Wednesday will be in the 60s; overnight the mercury will dip to the high 40s.

Snow levels in local mountains will fall to between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, with 4 to 8 inches of new snow possible over the highest peaks.

The last time Southern California saw May weather like this was back in 2008, according to the National Weather Service.