Southern California Weather Force has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the following zones:
Zones Issued For: Severe Weather Statement – Eastern Los Angeles Mountains Wrightwood … San Bernardino Mountains … Riverside Mountains … Inland Empire … High Desert … Coachella Valley … Morongo Basin to Joshua Tree National Park … Cajon Pass … Eastern half of Orange County …
Time Issued: 10:30am – September 20, 2024
Discussion: An early season low pressure system is moving directly across the area. As stated yesterday, this event would happen as predicted here. A healthy north to south flow combined with a low-level onshore flow will spark thunderstorms across the southern end of the mountains first, and then the entire High Desert will erupt into storms as well as the Inland Empire. This is a classic north to south flow event, and most in the Inland Empire will see these storms, whether overhead or nearby. Flooding concerns within the fire areas is likely, especially the Line Fire zone. While storms like this will put most of the fires out, flooding will be the opposite and equal reaction to those zones.
Damaging winds will be most likely in or around the zones listed above, and some hail as well due to stronger instability. As always, severe thunderstorms can and do produce a chance of tornadoes at any time.
Raiden Storm – Master General Meteorologist