Snow, Rain Forecast for S.D. County

Fresh snow is expected to top San Diego mountains and rain to dampen valleys and beaches this week when a vast weather system brings cold, unstable air to the West Coast, forecasters said Monday.

At least an inch of rain and three to six inches of snow are expected to fall as a low-pressure system hovers over the states west of the Rocky Mountains through Thursday.

But according to forecasters, the rain and snow that should begin today will fall intermittently as the unsettled air generates rain in spurts.

“It could be like a series of mini storms,” said forecaster Wilbur Shigehara of the National Weather Service. “We won’t be covered by one big rain; showers will keep coming at us. One minute you can be golfing and it will be sunny; next, all of a sudden it will rain.”

Gusty winds may whip snowfall into blizzard-like conditions on Cuyamaca Peak, Mt. Laguna and Palomar Mountain. Winds as high as 35 m.p.h. are expected, with a snow level down to 4,000 feet.

The expansive low-pressure system also will bring cold air that will continue to chill San Diego County at least until the weekend, forecasters said.

Daytime highs along the coastal strip and inland valleys are expected to be in the mid to upper 50s through Thursday. Temperatures at night will continue to be cool, with lows of 43 to 55 along the coast and 35 to 45 inland.

Mountain air is expected to be in the 32- to 42-degree range during the day, and below freezing at night. Desert highs will be 63 to 70 today. Desert temperatures will be between 38 and 48 degrees at night.