Mild Temps Today, Clouds Increasing, Rain Likely by Next Week

Let’s kick off the weathercast with a Tram Cam shot, where we can see the remnants of the snow from a couple of days ago. That snow could be gone soon, as a system moving through Southern California on Wednesday may bring rain that could wash it all away. More details to come on that in a moment.

Yesterday’s temperatures were close to normal with a high of 71°F, just one degree below our usual high of 72°F. We can expect similar conditions this afternoon, though with some added cloud cover, which we're already seeing today. At the moment, temperatures are 55°F in Yucca Valley, with many areas in the valley sitting in the low 60s. In Big Bear, it's 50°F, and the winds are calm across the region, staying below 10 miles per hour in the Coachella Valley.

Looking at the radar, nothing much is happening here in Southern California, but if we look north, there’s some rain and snow affecting Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. This system will remain mostly to the north, with another one following behind it, expected to bring more moisture into Southern California next week.

As mentioned, high clouds are currently moving into the area, and you can see that on the visible satellite. In the mid-levels of the atmosphere, clouds will continue to increase throughout the evening and into tomorrow morning. By Saturday morning, expect the high-level clouds to clear, but the mid-level clouds will hang around for most of the day.

Temperatures today will range from 68°F to 72°F, with 70°F in Palm Springs and Indio, and 67°F in some areas of the high desert. Overnight lows will be slightly warmer, thanks to the cloud cover, staying above freezing for the first time in a while. Expect a low of 50°F in Palm Springs, with 42°F in Indio.

Looking ahead, warmer temperatures are expected over the weekend, with highs reaching 74°F to 78°F on Saturday, and 77°F in Palm Springs. Sunday and Monday will be even warmer, with Palm Springs potentially hitting 83°F on Sunday, and similar temperatures for Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, and La Quinta.

The winds today will be light across the valley, though they may pick up slightly in areas like the San Gregorio Pass. There’s also some surface moisture in the forecast for the early part of next week, but no significant rain expected yet.

Speaking of rain, the models are showing a possibility of precipitation late Tuesday into Wednesday, with the bulk of it staying to the north and west of us. While the GFS model suggests little rain for the valley, the Ensemble forecast is a little more optimistic, showing some light sprinkles possible in the western parts of the Coachella Valley. Snow levels will be high, at around 6,800 feet, meaning it could wash away whatever snow remains at the Tram, but it won’t bring much moisture to the region.

In summary, expect a mild day today, more clouds tomorrow, and a warming weekend. After that, cooler, wetter weather may return early next week.

Comfort Air 7-Day Forecast:

• Today: Highs around 70°F, with high clouds.

• Tomorrow: Mix of sun and clouds, highs in the upper 70s.

• Weekend: Warming to the low 80s, with Sunday and Monday seeing temperatures in the low 80s.

• Next Week: Cooler temps with a chance of rain and snow on Wednesday.