Warm spring temperatures will give way to winter-like weather as a cold storm moves into the region Thursday, bringing low-elevation snow, showers and the possibility of severe thunderstorms.
“Widespread precipitation is expected from the coast to the mountains for late Thursday night into Friday evening with the snow level lowering to 3,000 to 3,500 feet,” according to the National Weather Service.
There is also a slight chance of thunderstorms for Friday afternoon, forecasters said.
“Onshore flow will strengthen on Thursday with … high temperatures much cooler, as much as 15 degrees cooler for the valleys,” according to the NWS.
Gusty winds will strengthen on Thursday afternoon and continue through Friday night, forecasters said. The strongest gusts are expected near the desert slopes of the mountains and near the coast.
Some lighter precipitation could develop as early as Thursday afternoon, with much of the rain expected from late that night through Friday afternoon, according to the NWS.
In addition to the slight chance for thunderstorms Friday, there could be small hail from some of those thunderstorms, forecasters said.
Rainfall is expected to range from around one-quarter inch near the coast to around an inch in the mountains. The deserts are expected to get less than one-quarter inch of rain.
Snowfall in the mountains through Friday evening of 1 to 3 inches is possible in areas as low as 3,000 feet; 3 to 6 inches from 4,500 to 5,500 feet, and 6 to 12 inches from 5,500 to 6,500 feet, according to forecasters.
High temperatures on Thursday will be around 60 along the coast, 57 to 62 in the valleys, 52 to 62 in the mountains and 75 to 80 in the deserts.
The weekend is expected to be drier and a little warmer, but a low-pressure system could bring some showers some time around Sunday night. However, warmer weather will be right on its heels by the middle of next week, according to NWS.
Updated at 7:35 a.m., Thursday, April 4, 2024
City News Service contributed to this article.
