Late-Season Storm Coming 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."

Temperature highs are forecast to be 68 in Palmdale and Lancaster Wednesday -- about 10 degrees below today's projected high. But most everywhere else, temperature highs will be in the high 60s Wednesday, about the same as today.

The following is Sierra Madre's forecast through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Tuesday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. 

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. 

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain, then rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Wednesday night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 64. 

Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. 

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 71.