Another beautiful day...

(Doppler Radar Imagery - Southern California Composite)

A fairly intense winter storm will bring widespread shower activity to the southland beginning early Saturday afternoon and will continue through late this evening...before diminishing to scattered showers early Sunday morning.

Most coastal and valley locations will recieve around 1/2" of rain. Some favored foothill sections may recieve amounts up to 3/4" or so.

There is a slight chance of thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening over the coastal and valley locations. Some of these storms may produce... locally gusty winds, small hail, locally heavy rainfall and the slight possibility of waterspouts or funnel clouds over the coastal waters this evening.

Snow or snow showers will begin to fall at the 5,500 foot level late this afternoon or early afternoon over the southern Calfornia mountain areas....then lower to around 4,000 feet by late in the day. The lower even more...to around 3,000 to 3,500 by mid-evening.

Total snow accumulations will range from 4 to 6 inches over the Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles County mountains, 1 to 3" over the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains.

Strong and gusty winds over the mountains combined will produce areas of low visibility in blowing and drifting snow this evening.

Gusty winds are likely over the mountains and deserts from mid morning through late tonight. Gusts ranging from 35 to 45 mph are possible.

Dress warm...if your in the mountain locations. The falling temperatures combined with the wind will make for low wind chill factors.

Continuous updates on the storm at...
Southland WX.

# posted by SoCal WXMan @ 4:48 AM