Rain started falling on the Hill hours before sunrise this morning. By 3 p.m., about 1.3 inches had been recorded at the Idyllwild Fire Station. The U.S. Forest Service’s Keenwild Ranger Station had received about 1.1 inches.
Further north, the Forest Service Vista Grande station has recorded 2.2 inches of rain. Communities in the San Bernardino Mountains have been receiving the greatest rainfall amounts. Mt. Baldy, Running Springs and Lake Arrowhead have all received 2.5 to 3 inches of rain.
Rain will continue through this afternoon.Three-quarters of an inch to an inch is the current forecast. Snow showers are possible tonight, but much more likely at the higher elevations than Idyllwild itself. At 3:45 p.m., the Palms Springs Tramway reported 1.25 inches of snow at its Mountain Top station.
Another, but milder, storm system is expected Saturday, but it will bring less chance (50 percent probability now) of rain or snow. And perhaps a third system the middle of next week.
The 9:30 a.m. National Weather Service forecast expects the now to most likely remain about 6,000 feet.
Rain totals are forecast to be between 1 and 2 inches with “little or no snow accumulation in Idyllwild.”
As of 10 a.m., Riverside County Emergency has not closed any roads on the Hill or ordered any evacuations, unlike the Holy Fire Burn area, where evacuations are in force.
This is from the Riverside County Emergency Department’s website, “
CRANSTON BURN AREA:
The rain predicted over the Cranston Fire burn area has changed. Rainfall is still expected Thursday however, based on current weather predictions, it is not expected to cause debris flows. There are no evacuation warnings, either voluntary or mandatory, in place at this time. “
A more recent and from the field comment, “All roads clear and open. Intense rain should arrive about 1015ish. No closure plans at this time,” wrote Riverside County Sheriff’s Lt. Zach Hall about 10 a.m.