Winter Storm Douses, Chills Area

A cold Pacific storm is still moving through southern California this evening, bringing snow showers, isolated thunderstorms, and gusty southwest to west winds. Snow levels will fall from around 3500 feet this afternoon to between 2000 and 2500 feet this evening. Locally lower snow levels will be possible in the heavier showers and thunderstorms. Gusty west winds may also cause blowing snow to reduce visibilities to one-quarter mile or less at times.

Travel across the passes will be hazardous. The weather will improve on Saturday...although roads will likely remain slippery in some areas.

Riverside County Mountains-San Diego County Mountains-Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 3 am Saturday.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 3 am Saturday.

Timing...heaviest snow will occur during the late afternoon and evening.

Snow accumulations...four to eight inches above 4000 feet. With up to ten inches possible on the higher peaks. Local amounts of two to four inches possible between 3000 and 4000 feet.

Winds...west winds 20 to 35 mph...with local gusts up to 60 mph over the windiest ridges and desert slopes.

Visibility...local visibility below one-quarter mile at times in snow...blowing snow...and fog.

Impacts...slick...snow covered roads and reduced visibility will make travel hazardous through the mountains...including along i-8. Chains will be required for some roads.

Outlook...snow will taper off late tonight and on saturday. Very cold conditions will continue for the next several nights...potentially causing areas of black ice or slippery roads.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A winter storm warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in

an emergency. If you must travel...keep an extra flashlight...Food...and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Cold low pressure system bringing gusty winds and light rainfall expected to intensify today

SAN DIEGO-Riverside - A cold low pressure system crept into San Diego County early today, bringing gusty winds and light rainfall that was expected to intensify throughout the day.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the deserts and a winter weather advisory for the mountains from 3 o'clock this morning to 3 a.m. Saturday. A coastal flood advisory was scheduled until 10 a.m. Saturday.

During the wind advisory period, sustained west winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour -- gusting up to 55 mph -- were expected in the deserts.

''The winds will make driving difficult, especially for motorists with high profile vehicles,'' according to an NWS advisory. ''Watch for broken tree limbs and downed power lines.''

In the mountains, snow levels around 4,500 feet this morning were expected to fall to around 3,000 to 3,500 later today and to 2,500 feet overnight. Also, sustained winds of 15 to 30 mph were expected to cause blowing snow in the mountains today, reducing visibility to a quarter-mile or less at times.

The heaviest snow is expected during the day today, according to the NWS. The agency said four to eight inches of snow accumulation is likely above 4,000 feet, and up to 10 inches is possible on higher elevated coastal slopes.

''Slick, snow covered roads and reduced visibility will make travel hazardous through the mountains,'' an NWS advisory said. ''Chains may be required for some roads.''

Rainfall amounts from the storm are expected to range from up to a half- inch in coastal and valley areas to up to an inch in the mountains. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms and small hail this afternoon and evening, according to the weather service.

Riverside COUNTY - The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the Coachella Valley and a winter weather Advisory for the mountains from 3 o'clock this morning to 3 a.m. Saturday. During the wind advisory period, sustained west winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour -- gusting up to 55 mph -- were expected in

the Coachella Valley.

''The winds will make driving difficult, especially for motorists with high profile vehicles,'' according to an NWS advisory. ''Watch for broken tree limbs and downed power lines.''

In the mountains, snow levels around 4,500 feet this morning were expected to fall to around 3,000 to 3,500 later today and to 2,500 feet overnight. Also, sustained winds of 15 to 30 mph were expected to cause blowing snow in the mountains today, reducing visibility to a quarter-mile or less at times.

The heaviest snow is expected during the day today, according to the NWS. The agency said four to eight inches of snow accumulation is likely above 4,000 feet, and up to 10 inches is possible on higher elevated coastal slopes.

''Slick, snow covered roads and reduced visibility will make travel hazardous through the mountains,'' an NWS advisory said. ''Chains may be required for some roads.''

The storm is also expected to drench the Inland Empire with up to an inch of rain. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms and small hail this afternoon and evening, according to the weather service.

Cold pacific storm system late tonight through Saturday morning to bring rain, wind, and snow

SAN DIEGO AND Riverside COUNTIES – A cold low pressure system will continue to move into the pacific northwest today then into central California and Nevada on Friday, sending a series of disturbances across southern California late tonight through Saturday morning.

This will likely bring much colder conditions with periods of strong and gusty winds in the mountains and deserts as well as rain and snow showers along and west of the mountains and in the upper deserts. Snow levels will lower to around 2500 feet by Friday evening.

Rainfall ranging from one quarter to one half inch will come in the coastal areas and valleys, with one half to near one inch in the mountains and two tenths of an inch or less in the deserts. Local snow levels near 2000 feet will be possible during showers.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible Friday night with small hail or graupel possible. Waterspouts will also be possible over the coastal waters.

Southwest to west winds in the mountains and deserts Thursday night and Friday, with strongest gusts to 50 mph, will be mainly near ridge tops and along and near desert mountain slopes.

This weather could be deadly for unprepared campers or hikers. The combination of gusty winds, low visibilities, and snowfall could create hazardous travel conditions in the mountains, especially Friday and Friday night with snow levels low enough to impact travel on Interstate 15 through the Cajon Pass and Interstate 8 through the San Diego County mountains.

Pacific storm to bring much cooler temperatures, snow, rain and gusty winds to the region through Sunday

SAN DIEGO - A significant shift in the weather is expected in San Diego County later today, as a Pacific storm arrives and brings much cooler temperatures, snow, rain and gusty winds to the region through Sunday, forecasters said.

''A cold Pacific storm will bring significantly colder air to the region, as well as lower elevation snow,'' according to the National Weather Service.

Rainfall amounts from the storm are expected to range from up to a half- inch in coastal and valley areas to up to an inch in the mountains.

The weather service issued a winter weather advisory for snow and blowing snow in the mountains from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday. According to an NWS advisory, the snow level will be around 5,000 feet Friday morning, then plummet during the day to around 3,500 feet and down to 2,500 feet heading into Saturday.

Three to seven inches of snow is expected to accumulate above 4,000 feet, while up to nine inches is possible above 6,000 feet and up to two inches is possible near 3,000 feet, according to the weather service.

Sustained west winds of 15 to 30 miles per hour, gusting up to 50 mph, are also expected in the mountains and in the deserts.

A wind advisory is scheduled for the mountains and deserts from 8 o'clock this evening to 10 p.m. Friday. Winds are expected to be strongest along the mountain ridge tops and the desert slopes, as well as through and below the favored canyons and passes.

Blowing snow will cause visibility in the mountains to be down to a quarter-mile at times, according to the weather service.

Motorists in the mountains are encouraged to carry chains for the next several days.

''Cold conditions will continue in the mountains the next several nights, with freezing temperatures potentially causing areas of black ice or slippery roads,'' an NWS advisory said.

Cold storm to arrive Thursday with rain, snow, wind

SAN DIEGO - A pair of Pacific low pressure systems will merge off the British Columbia coast today before moving southward toward San Diego County, forecasters said.

The merged systems will form a cold Pacific storm that should arrive in the county late Thursday night, bringing rain, snow and wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour through early Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

''There are still some minor model timing differences but overall it is expected to be much cooler during this period with strong gusty winds in the mountains and deserts, with showers along and west of the mountains and in the upper deserts, and with snow levels lowering to around 2,500 feet,'' an NWS advisory said.

Rainfall totals from the storm are expected to range from up to a quarter-inch near the coast to around a half-inch in the mountains. Also in the mountains, three to six inches of snow is expected above 4,000 feet, with local amounts of six to nine inches mainly above 6,000 feet.

The weather service said a couple of inches of snow is possible in the far inland valleys near the coastal foothills late Friday night and early Saturday.

Isolated thunderstorms are also possible Friday night, with small hail, according to the NWS.

''This weather could be deadly for unprepared campers or hikers,'' a weather service advisory said. ''The combination of strong winds, low visibilities and snowfall could create hazardous travel conditions in the mountains, especially Friday and Friday night.''