Southern California storms: When will it rain? When will it be dry?

The strongest rain will likely fall in downtown Los Angeles on Friday afternoon as the second of two winter storm systems makes its way across the Southland.

Meteorologists say the two-day forecast calls for the heaviest downpour across Central and Southern California on Friday afternoon before the system reboots again and continues through the weekend.

Between Friday and Saturday night, weather officials expect two to four inches of rain to fall on the coasts and valleys and four to eight inches in the foothills and mountains.

The weather system is dropping more rain on L.A. in one event than it has seen in at least three years.

After the strong rains Friday afternoon, there will be a lull and “the last piece of the puzzle,” the low center of the system, is predicted to come onshore for another bout of precipitation on Saturday and into early Sunday morning.

The first wave of the storm hit late Thursday night and early Friday morning as a warm front pushed onshore.

“We’re transitioning now to the cold front and a bit more unstable” weather, said National Weather Service meteorologist Kathie Hoxsie. That weather could include thunderstorms and strong winds, Hoxsie said.

As the day progresses, Hoxsie said, “we’re about to see another wave of heavier precipitation come on shore in the Central Coast and that’s going to make its way down Ventura and Los Angeles counties eventually.”

The heaviest rain will hit the Central Coast around noon and later in the afternoon in Los Angeles, she said.

“Then we’re going to have a little bit of a lull and then the last piece of the puzzle will be when the low center actually comes down,” she said.

The scenario will play out again Saturday - though weaker -- with strong rains expected over the Central Coast around noon and likely a bit later in Southern California.

“A little bit of a lull tomorrow and then another punch in afternoon hours,” Hoxsie said.

The storm may linger into the early hours Sunday morning with showers and light drizzles, she said.

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Ari Bloomkatz, ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com

Twitter: @aribloomekatz | Facebook

Bloomkatz writes for the Los Angeles Times