Meteorologists warn of an unsettled weather pattern that will hover across Riverside County and the IE this week, including mountain snow.
Ashley Ludwig, Patch Staff
|Updated Mon, Mar 3, 2025 at 9:52 am PT
PALM DESERT, CA — Palm Desert started the week with an air quality alert through much of Monday on the heels of scattered rainfall Sunday. A weekend weather system moved in, bringing with it periods of heavy rain and even a brief hail storm Sunday across Riverside County. The chilly system dropped snow levels to 3,500 feet in the Riverside County mountain communities Monday, and more weather is forecast later this week.
A windblown dust advisory was in effect until noon on Monday, with 40 mph winds expected from Indio to Banning, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said. "
"Gusty winds are causing blowing dust with particle pollution levels in the good to hazardous Air Quality Index categories in parts of the Coachella Valley," the SCAQMD announced.Though the strongest winds peaked Sunday, the public was advised to limit exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical activity.
According to the National Weather Service meteorologists, an unsettled weather pattern will follow a brief drying-out period on Tuesday. Rain, wind, and mountain snow will return Wednesday through Friday, with more rain slated to fall early to mid-next week, they said.
"There is still uncertainty in the timing. A few members bring precipitation in as early as Sunday night, though most have something closer to Monday morning or afternoon. There is considerable spread in precipitation amounts with this system, but overall looks like it will result in more beneficial rain and mountain snow," according to the NWS discussion.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to reports, about a tenth of an inch of rain fell in Temecula, Murrieta, and Lake Elsinore on Sunday. Beaumont and metropolitan Riverside, Banning, Hemet, Jurupa Valley, and other areas saw over a quarter inch of rainfall. At the same time, portions of Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Coachella, and Desert Hot Springs received only a smattering of the wet stuff.
Some IE towns saw thunderstorms Sunday evening, and snow levels plummeted to 3,500 to 4,000 feet by Monday morning.
A winter weather advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Monday for the Inland Empire mountains. A wind advisory was in effect until 10 p.m. Monday in the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, including the cities of Desert Hot Springs and Banning.
The NWS said that West winds will strengthen late Sunday afternoon and evening, gusting as high as 60 mph over the mountains, into the deserts, and below the passes through Monday evening.
This week is expected to bring cooler daytime temperatures to the county, with highs in downtown Riverside staying in the lower 60s and dropping to about 55 on Thursday.
Palm Springs reached a high of 73 on Sunday. It is expected to drop to 68 on Monday before rising into the mid to upper 70s on Tuesday and Wednesday and dropping to 62 on Thursday.
Sunday's highs reached 63 in the downtown Riverside area, 60 in Temecula and Hemet, 75 in the Coachella Valley and 73 in Palm Springs, according to the NWS.
Palm Desert's weekly forecast, per the National Weather Service:
Detailed Forecast
MondaySunny, with a high near 71. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday nightMostly clear, with a low around 49. West wind around 5 mph.
TuesdaySunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind.
Tuesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 53. Calm wind.
WednesdayMostly sunny, with a high near 74. Light southeast wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday NightA chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
ThursdayA chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday NightA chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
FridaySunny, with a high near 68.
Friday NightMostly clear, with a low around 48.
SaturdaySunny, with a high near 76.
Saturday NightClear, with a low around 51.
SundaySunny, with a high near 78.
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