SAN DIEGO — For a third morning, we'll kick off Wednesday with scattered light showers along the coast and inland. Temperatures are the coolest they've been so far this week, so the jacket will come in handy in the morning both thanks to the cool temps and the small chance for drizzle.
By the afternoon, wet weather will taper off and stick with us through Saturday. Expect partly cloudy skies in the afternoon but high temperatures remaining cooler than normal, mostly in the upper 50s and low 60s.
We kicked off the week on the cool side with passing clouds and sunshine. It was a good mix of fair weather cumulus clouds and high clouds on Monday and Tuesday. Most of the county remained dry, but light showers were reported in spots along and west of the mountains. Accumulations were not impressive but came to a few hundredths of an inch. Enough to wet the roads, but nothing too impactful, especially as we eye a stronger chance of stormy weather to end this upcoming weekend.
On its closest approach before exiting east, this cold low pressure system will keep the chance for more light showers in the forecast through Wednesday morning. Due to a slow progression throughout the day, the time frame for the most active period has been pushed back. The window for the heaviest activity is midnight through 6:00 am Wednesday. Slick roads will be the main hazard along and west of the mountains.
Speaking of the mountains, the snow level will be near 5,000 feet through Wednesday morning. There is a chance for light snow, a trace to up to 1" possible in our local mountains.
Additionally, the wind will be gusty with the passage of this system. Gusts up to 20 - 30 mph are expected. The stronger gusts will favor the desert mountain slopes - up to 50 mph in spots.
Temperatures will remain cool due to the passage of the system. That's what is also driving down the snow level. Daytime highs will be cooler than usual for this time of the year.
SEASONAL (AVERAGE) HIGHS:
- Coast near 67°
- Inland valleys near 66°
- Mountains near 51°
- Desert near 70°
WEDNESDAY HIGHS:
AT THE COAST:
Expect sets to 4 feet through Wednesday. The surf will lower to 1 to 3 feet with a low risk of rip currents on Thursday.
The second half of the week will bring drier days starting Wednesday afternoon as we sit in-between systems. Expect mostly sunny skies with no major changes to our temperatures because the sag in the jet stream will continue over the West. This dip will send another storm system through the West by the second half of the weekend.
As of Tuesday evening, models show the low moving in across the Pacific Northwest. This will bump up our chances for rain starting Saturday night. This rather robust system looks to lower the snow level 6,500 feet Saturday night through Sunday. More details on projected amounts and timing in the days ahead. Stay tuned!
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