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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Yet another storm system will push into the already saturated Southland Tuesday evening, with rain expected shortly after midnight and another wave arriving late Wednesday and into Thursday.
National Weather Service forecasters said the rain will reach Los Angeles County sometime between midnight and 3 a.m.
"This first band of rain will be steady but fairly short-lived, around six hours, and generally on the lighter side, mostly a tenth of an inch per hour or less, though locally up to a quarter-inch per hour in the foothills and mountains," according to the NWS.
After the first round of rain, the region will enjoy a break for about six to eight hours, followed by a "colder and more unstable portion" of the storm system that will arrive late Wednesday and stretch into Thursday morning.
"This will be more showery in nature but with higher rain rates and possible thunderstorms," according to the NWS.
A winter storm warning will be in effect from 4 a.m. Wednesday until 2 p.m. Thursday in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, with 6 to 12 inches of snow possible above 5,000 feet. Forecasters said some higher peaks could see up to 18 inches, with the snow accompanied by winds gusting up to 45 mph.
The western San Gabriel Mountains and Antelope Valley (14) Freeway corridor will be under a winter weather advisory from 4 a.m. Wednesday until 2 p.m. Thursday, with 4 to 8 inches of snow possible above 5,000 feet. The advisory will also be in place during the same hours for the Golden State (5) Freeway corridor in northern Los Angeles County, where an inch of snow could fall on the Grapevine.
"Other high elevation roads in this area above 6,000 feet may see light snow accumulations as early as Tuesday morning," according to the NWS.
The storm system is expected to move out of the area by late Thursday, with dry but cool conditions anticipated for Friday and the weekend.