Back-to-Back Storms Heading In

A pair of storms is headed this way, and they’ll bring rain, wind and snow, according to National Weather Service forecasters.

The first of the two systems is expected to bring rain to the Los Alamitos-Seal Beach area by Tuesday evening, according to an NWS advisory.

``Behind the main front, a cold and unstable air mass will continue to bring a threat of showers to the region on Wednesday,'' it said.

Preliminary projections envision between 0.33 and 0.75 inch of rain in coastal areas and between three-quarters and 1.5 inches along south- and southwest-facing mountain slopes, according to NWS forecasters.

Temperatures are expected to hover in the high 50s and low 60s all week, with overnight lows in the high 50s.

The snow level is expected to range between 5,500 and 6,000 feet Tuesday night, dropping to between 4,500 and 5,000 feet Wednesday, they said. Between six and 12 inches of snow is expected to accumulate above 6,000 feet as result of the first storm, which is also expected to whip up winds gusting at 50 mph in the region's mountains and deserts, according to the NWS.

Then, a second storm system will hit the Southland, although ``there is considerable uncertainty in the timing and track of this system, an NWS advisory said. At this point, it is expected to hit the Los Alamitos area by Thursday night.

``It appears that the greatest threat of precipitation with this second storm will be Thursday night into Friday. However, a chance of showers will linger into Saturday,'' it said, and the snow level will be between 4,000 and 5,000 feet.

The combination of snow and gusty winds could reduce visibility, the NWS warned, urging motorists to stay apprised of conditions before venturing onto
mountain roads.

- City News Service