More late-winter storms to hit Southern California this week

More late-winter storms are on the way to Southern California this week, with Wednesday and Thursday shaping up to be the heaviest days of rainfall before another system moves into the area next weekend.

Light rain is possible early or late Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. A cold front will move over the area overnight Wednesday into the predawn hours of Thursday, presaging a storm that will carry the potential for flooding.

Forecasters are predicting a 3-to-6 hour period of moderate to heavy rain, with a half-inch to 1 inch per hour. This system will also likely be the biggest snow maker of the season, with 1 to 2 feet of snow forecast for higher elevations.

“Steady rain will turn to showers Thursday. The snow levels will drop to around 3,000 ft and a few inches of snow is possible over the Grapevine and other lower elevations passes,” the NWS said.

Cooler temperatures are expected all week too, with daytime highs dropping to around 60 degrees in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday and Wednesday and around 55 on Thursday and Friday. Overnight lows will generally be in the 40s and lower 50s, but will drop into the 30s on Thursday and Friday in the mountains and the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley.

In the Inland Empire, there is a greater chance for heavy rain, low snow levels and widespread gusty west winds late Wednesday through Friday. The winds will likely peak on Thursday with gusts of 55-65 mph in the mountains and desert areas, the NWS said.

The snow level should be around 6,000-6,500 feet on Wednesday and lower to around 3,500-4,000 feet Thursday afternoon. Most of the rain will likely fall Thursday morning, when the snow level is around 4,500-5,000 feet, meteorolgists said.

There also could be another round of rain over most of Southern California next weekend.

City News Service contributed to this report.