Just days after Southern California featured some of the hottest places in the nation, a substantial cooldown with rain and thunderstorms is expected to chill the region into the weekend, meteorologists said Wednesday.

Starting Thursday, March 3, about a 10-degree temperature shift is expected throughout the region, with much of inland Southern California feeling high temperatures in the low 70s and coastal regions in the mid-60s, said Samantha Connolly, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s San Diego office. Regional mountains can expect highs in the 50s, said Kristan Lund, meteorologist with the NWS’ Los Angeles office.

Then Thursday evening into Friday, March, 4, a “wet” storm system is expected to douse lower-elevation areas of the Inland Empire and inland Orange County with a projected half inch to an inch of precipitation, Connolly said. In Los Angeles County, precipitation levels are expected to be slightly lower with a projected quarter-inch to three-quarters-of-an-inch in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, Lund said.

Snow is also expected to accumulate throughout the San Gabriel Mountains overnight into Friday as well, Lund said.

Thunderstorms with the potential to produce hail are also expected throughout the region Thursday evening into Friday, both meteorologists said. Wind gusts are projected to be between 20 to 25 mph, Connolly said.

Residents are reminded to remain indoors during thunderstorms or hail, Lund said.

“If you can hear thunder, you’re not safe,” Lund said.

Friday’s high temperatures are expected to drop mainly below 60 degrees, both meteorologists said. While rainfall is expected to peak overnight, rain showers are projected throughout the day Friday, according to Connolly.

On Saturday, March 5, a second, colder storm system producing less rain at lower elevations is forecasted to impact the region through Sunday, March 6, Connolly said. This system is anticipated to impact primarily the mountains, with measurable rainfall in foothills and valleys expected to be only as high as a tenth-of-an-inch, she said.

Temperatures will begin to rebound back to seasonal averages Monday, March 7, as a 5 to 10 degree temperature increase is anticipated, Connolly said.

The NWS projects the following high temperatures on Thursday, March 3:

Dana Point: 64Fullerton: 71Long Beach: 65Downtown Los Angeles: 69San Fernando Valley: 71San Bernardino: 76Torrance: 66Redlands: 75Riverside: 76Whittier: 70

Weather was relatively warm Wednesday, with Big Bear reaching 68 degrees, breaking the old record for the date of 67 set in 1972.

Related Articles