Late Season Storm to Hit Wednesday

A late season Pacific storm will give the Southland a dousing Wednesday while churning up gusty winds but generating little snow below 7,000 feet, forecasters said today.

Along with the rain and gusty winds, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms south of Point Conception after the arrival of the storm, which was still several hundreds of miles away this morning, they said.

Early projections point to between a half-inch and an inch of rain, more along south-facing mountain slopes and near the scene of thunderstorms, according to a National Weather Service advisory. The rain is expected to taper off Wednesday night, with a chance of showers Thursday.

The snow level will be at 7,000 feet or higher through Wednesday night, then fall to between 6,000 and 7,000 feet, the advisory said, adding that "very little snow accumulation is expected below 7,000 feet with this system."

The following is the foothill forecast through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Tuesday: A chance of drizzle before 11 a.m. Patchy dense fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 64 degrees. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. 

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain, then rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62 degrees. South wind around 5 mph. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm expected by nightfall. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 60 degrees. 

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67 degrees.