INLAND EMPIRE - (INT) - As winter winds down, the opening of spring is likely to be on the soggy side.

Forecasters are calling for a ‘significant’ storm system to move in late Monday with atmospheric river moisture peaking on Tuesday then tapering off Wednesday.

Predicted rainfall totals:
Coast/valleys: 1 to 2 inches
Mountains: 2 to 5 inches
High desert: 0.25 to 0.75 inch
Lower deserts: 0.15 to 0.50 inch

Snow levels will remain quite high when the leading edge of the storm first arrives. But, by Tuesday afternoon the freezing levels drops to 5,000 feet and as low as 4,000 feet by Wednesday morning. Accumulations will range from 3-inches at the lower elevations to 2-3 feet on the highest peaks. Winds will howl across the mountains at 40-50 miles an hour.

Although the storm exits on Thursday, the unsettled weather pattern will remain active as the Pacific jet stream keeps aiming at California.

Story Date: March 19, 2023