Posted November 24, 2008, 8:47 AM.

According to recent National Weather Services forecasts, showers could begin Tuesday, followed by heavy rain Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, and lingering showers or sprinkles through Thanksgiving.

Thunderstorms and hail were a slight possibility Wednesday.

Rainfall totals were expected to be between half an inch and an inch in the inland valleys, with snow at the resort levels in the local mountains.

The rain, if it materializes, would be the most from a storm since the May 22nd thunderstorms and tornadoes. The rain would go a long way to ending or dampening a damaging autumn fire season.

A colder, less wet storm was lined up in the longer range forecasts to arrive for the weekend, but timing of its arrival was uncertain.