By Reginald Stanley. Posted March 11, 2025, 4:35 AM.

Southern California will see multiple days of rain and mountain snow this week as two storms impact the region - the first on Tuesday, and the second, stronger storm between Wednesday and Friday.

An approaching convective band of rain associated with a cutoff low is making landfall in coastal Orange and San Diego counties early Tuesday morning, with areas further inland expected to see precipitation later in the morning. Gusty southwest to west winds are also expected throughout Tuesday, especially during the afternoon. Instability will increase Tuesday afternoon as the core of the cutoff low moves over Southern California, bringing chances of thunderstorms with it. Projected precipitation totals for Tuesday are between 0.5 and 0.7 inches across most of San Diego County, as well as parts of western Riverside County. Areas further north will see less rainfall, with communities such as Riverside and Hemet predicted to receive no more than 0.3 to 0.4 inches. However, the convective nature of this system may lead to considerable variation in rainfall across even short distances. Snow levels on Tuesday are expected to hover between 5,500 and 6,500 feet above sea level. Much of Wednesday will likely be drier, with some lingering showers over the mountains.

A stronger, wetter cold storm is forecast to impact the region late Wednesday, continuing into Thursday. This storm will be colder than Tuesday's storm, with snow levels dropping to around 3,500 feet by late Thursday. The storm will again feature chances of thunderstorms on Thursday, with potential for heavy rain and localized flooding possible (especially where thunderstorms develop). Inland valleys may receive over one inch of precipitation from this week's second storm, with locally higher amounts also possible. Widespread gusty winds are expected again late Wednesday and Thursday from the coasts to the deserts. Showers may continue into Saturday, however some computer forecast models indicate drier weather under ridging instead, before potentially more unsettled weather early next week.