Weekend storm to bring rain, possible thunderstorms

Rain was expected over much of the Southland on Sunday, making for inclement weather overnight in some areas.

It will be mostly dry Saturday with cooler than normal temperatures. Moderate rain and a chance of thunderstorms will likely sweep through the area Saturday night into Sunday morning, the National Weather Service said.

Scattered shower activity is possible Sunday afternoon into Monday morning. Dry and warmer weather is expected the rest of next week.

Rainfall totals through Sunday night were expected to range between a half-inch and 1.5 inches, with around 2 inches in the foothills and mountains. Rainfall rates are expected to be in the quarter- to half-inch per hour range. Forecasters said “minor nuisance flooding is likely, but major flooding/debris flows remain unlikely.”  

Any thunderstorms that develop will likely produce brief heavy rain, gusty outflow winds, small hail and potentially waterspouts or weak, short-lived, tornadoes, they added.

The main front is expected to move through Los Angeles County between early morning and mid-morning Sunday.

Snow levels are expected to hover around 7,000 feet through Sunday morning before dropping to near 5,000 feet Sunday afternoon into early Monday.

A winter weather advisory was issued from 3 a.m. Sunday through 11 a.m. Monday for the Interstate 5 Corridor, Acton, the San Gabriel Mountains and the Highway 14 Corridor.

Strong winds were also expected in the Antelope Valley, with winds of 20 to 30 mph Saturday and gusts up to 45 mph on Sunday. A wind advisory was issued Saturday afternoon throughout along Highway 14, from Ward Road to the Los Angeles/Kern County line. The California Highway Patrol said drivers of high-profile vehicles, campers and trailers should use caution.

Temperatures in the Los Angeles County area will drop over the next few days, with highs in the mid-60s Sunday and Monday, before a slight warming trend kicks in for the rest of the week. Overnight lows will be in the upper 40s and lower 50s throughout the county.