Winter storm to bring significant snowfall to Riverside County mountains

RIVERSIDE - A winter storm moving in from the Northwest will bring significant snowfall to Riverside County's mountains this weekend, meteorologists said today.

The National Weather Service scheduled a winter storm watch for the mountains from late tonight to Sunday morning, saying the snow level would lower to near 2,500 feet by Saturday night.

A winter storm watch means there is the potential for significant snow, sleet or ice accumulation that may impact travel.

Two to five inches of snow accumulation was expected from 3,000 to 5,000 feet and up to eight inches was expected above 5,000 feet.

''Most of the snow will fall late Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon,'' an NWS advisory said.

The storm will also bring strong and gusty westerly winds to the mountains and the Coachella Valley, according to the weather service. The agency forecast sustained westerly winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour and widespread gusts up to 55 mph, with local gusts in excess of 60 mph possible at times.

A high wind watch for the Coachella Valley was expected to take effect late tonight and continue into Sunday morning. Also today, a frost advisory was in effect until 9 a.m. for the Inland Empire, where temperatures ranged from the upper 20s in a few isolated places to the low to high 30s in most of valley areas, according to the weather service.

The agency encouraged residents to bring pets indoors and to cover sensitive outdoor plants.

Frost warning issued

Riverside - A very cold dry air mass sat over Southern California today, prompting meteorologists to issue a frost advisory for the Inland Empire. Light winds amid mostly clear skies combined with the cold air mass to allow temperatures into the lower and mid-30s across parts of the Inland Empire, according to the National Weather Service. The agency set the frost advisory to expire at 9 a.m. ''This cold weather may damage sensitive plants or animals,'' an NWS advisory said. The frost advisory covered valley areas around Riverside and parts of San Bernardino County.