Expect Wind, Rain and Temperature Drop from West Coast Storm

Satellite images show a large plume of moisture streaming into the West Coast. Rain and wind will intensify through the day from northern California to the lower mainland of British Columbia, with winds gusting as high as 60 mph in coastal areas along with rain and strong surf.

Weather image and video courtesy: AccuWeather.com:

(SALEM, Ore.) - The powerful Pacific storm moving into the Pacific Northwest today will not only bring dramatic changes to the West, it will influence the weather across the country through early next week, according to AccuWeather.com.

A weak storm system moved into the Northwest on Thursday, setting the stage for the second, more powerful storm arriving today. On Saturday, the precipitation fans out across the Intermountain West.

Satellite imagery shows a large plume of moisture streaming into the West Coast. Rain and wind will intensify through the day from northern California to the lower mainland of British Columbia. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph will lash coastal areas with the rain and strong surf adding to the nasty conditions.

According to AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist John Kocet, the rain becomes less concentrated as it moves through the mountains. "The heavy rain on the coast turns to blotches of rain in the mountains," said Kocet.

Showers this weekend will reach into areas of California that have seen little or no rain since the spring, including Los Angeles and San Diego.

In addition to the rain, the storm system will bring an end to the record-breaking heat across the West. Highs this weekend in Los Angeles will be in the mid-70s after the high on Wednesday in downtown L.A. reached 100 degrees.

Here is the latest video weather update from AccuWeather.com:

Video