Snow falls near Palm Springs

Wintry weather brought on by a cold Pacific storm blew into the Coachella Valley and nearby mountains today.

(Flickr/Stupid Dingo)

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning, effective until 3 a.m. Saturday, for Riverside County mountains.

As of 2 p.m., there was 4 inches of snow at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, and snow was still falling, tram spokeswoman Lena Zimmerschied said.

Temperatures were around 19 degrees, she said.

Snow and fog were expected to limit visibility and make mountain travel hazardous.

The NWS advised mountain travel “only in an emergency,” with a flashlight, food and water in the car.

Local wind gusts could reach 60 mph on ridges and desert slopes.

Gusts reached about 40 mph at Palm Springs International Airport early this afternoon, according to the NWS.

Temperatures at the Palm Springs airport dropped from 57 degrees this morning to 48 degrees around 2 p.m., according to the NWS.