Wet Weather to Hit South Bay

Wet weather returned to the Beach Cities on Tuesday morning in the form of light rain, but Wednesday is expected to produce hours of steady rainfall, according to National Weather Service meteorologists.

The storm system that generated Tuesday's early precipitation is expected to bring the region less than a quarter-inch of rain, the NWS has reported.

"However, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms that could bring locally higher rainfall amounts," according to the NWS advisory.

Wednesday's weather picture is clearer because the next storm system is stronger and, as a result of the one that will have preceded it, will have "a good source of moisture" to tap into, according to the NWS. The system has the potential "for widespread rainfall" throughout the day Wednesday, it said.

"The fast-moving cold front is expected to bring a 4- to 6-hour period of steady rainfall, with brief, heavy rain possible," it said, adding it may also generate showers and thunderstorms on Thursday.

In all, Wednesday's storm could produce between a half-inch and an inch of rain, with two inches possible on south- and southwest-facing mountain slopes, according to the advisory.

"There could even be some early-season snowfall across the higher mountain elevations Wednesday night into Thursday," it said.

The storm expected Wednesday also will generate strong, gusty south-to-southwest winds in the mountains and deserts, according to the NWS.

It said that along with rain and wind, this week will bring cooler temperatures, with some areas likely to see temperatures fall 15 to 30 degrees below normal.

But this weekend will be sunny with temperatures above 70 degrees, according to the long-term forecast.

— City News Service