Rain will be returning to our area early next week. Right now I'm watching a plume of low level moisture that originates near Hawaii and extends all the way to the Oregon coastline. You can spot it on the satellite loop below.
It's the interplay of this moisture along with another plume to our south that will enhance our rain totals as a storm system dives out of the Gulf of Alaska on Tuesday. We should see scattered light showers develop Tuesday morning and into Tuesday night.
The best chances for substantial rain arrives on Wednesday, Christmas Eve. Periods of rain and isolated downpours will be possible throughout the day. Scattered showers and an occasional downpour will persist through Christmas Day.
Showers will diminish by early Friday. Snow levels will remain high, so local mountains won't see snow, however, higher peaks to our north (Big Bear and northward) will see accumulations.
I've posted the computer projections for rain totals below, which show our area getting 2 to 4" of rain. This is a developing situation, so I'll bring updates as needed. If you plan to be traveling on Christmas Eve, I'd keep a close eye to the forecast!
