Coachella Valley Could Get Hail, Thunderstorms

INDIO - Coachella Valley residents should be prepared for the possibility of hail and thunderstorms tomorrow, a National Weather Service meteorologist said.

Clouds are expected to move into the valley overnight, and there is a 30 to 50 percent chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday, meteorologist James Thomas said.

''It should be something to watch for,'' he said. ''These thunderstorms have the potential to produce hail, lightning, significant rainfall, gusty winds.''

The highest chance of thunderstorms is over the mountains and Southern California deserts, according to NWS forecasters. A low-pressure system will be moving inland tonight, pulling up monsoonal moisture from the south, Thomas said.

''It's mainly to the north and west of Indio, but the whole Coachella Valley late tonight through the day tomorrow has a chance of thunderstorms,'' he said. ''Whether you get the storms or not, you should see significant cloud cover.''

People should move inside if they hear thunder, according to the NWS. Storms can cause flash flooding, especially in steep terrain, canyons and burn areas, Thomas said.