By Reginald Stanley. Posted September 24, 2021, 4:33 PM.

Low pressure over northern Baja California has spread an area of showers and thunderstorms over parts of Southern California Friday afternoon, after clearing the layer of smoke that previously filled the sky Thursday.

Temperatures fell sharply Friday afternoon as the skies turned cloudy inland, and rumbles of thunder were heard. Preliminary totals for WeatherCurrents stations ranged from 0.15 inches in Temecula, to 0.01 inch in Hemet. Precipitation was also recorded in Murrieta, Fallbrook and Riverside (Orangecrest), where totals of 0.07, 0.05 and 0.03 inches were observed as of Friday afternoon, respectively. In Temecula Valley's Wine Country, a higher total of 0.39 inches was reported (courtesy of Jim Sappington). The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Watch for the mountains and deserts through 7 PM Friday evening.

Storm chances are expected to decrease Saturday inland, while remaining the same in the mountains and deserts as the low shifts southward. Thunderstorms will decrease in those areas Sunday before a trough enters the region from the northwest, keeping temperatures relatively cool with onshore flow next week.