SAN DIEGO — Our second day of March was a dry, sunny and warmer than usual one. But, tomorrow will be a far cry from that forecast.
A Pacific storm system is churning west of San Diego County this evening as it continues its trek closer to us. Cloud cover will start to move in Wednesday morning ahead of the wet weather. By the late morning hours, our rain chances will ramp up with the bulk of the moisture expected from 11 am to 7 pm.
Not just rain, but mountain snow is expected with this next storm system. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Southern California mountains including the ones in San Diego County. This alert will be over a 9-hour period on Wednesday above 5,500 feet.
The storm system will also prompt gusty morning winds with the strongest breeze along the desert mountain slopes. Calmer winds are expected countywide by early Thursday morning.
Naturally, the cool onshore flow will knock down our temps. Our daytime highs will likely be reached by the morning hours before the system rolls in. Our peak heat will fall short of seasonal, just by a few degrees, with widespread low 60s in the forecast.
The wet weather will start to dry out by Wednesday night as the low pressure system exits east and a weak ridge of high pressure develops over the region again. Expect a warm up with passing high clouds on Thursday and Friday. Temperatures will peak on Friday with most inland highs 10° to 20° above seasonal.
Models are hinting at another storm system closing in on the State. This one will be coming in from the Pacific Northwest. This one looks to have less moisture feeding into San Diego County. There is only a slight chance we could see light showers, along and west of the mountains, on Saturday. I am still monitoring this system and not ready to add a raindrop to our forecast just yet!
