Winds, Chance of Rain, and Winter Is Back

Gusty winds and a chance of rain have brought the specter of winter weather back to San Diego County, as a series of storms approaching the Southern California coast banished sunny skies and unseasonably warm temperatures.

A high-pressure system that has protected San Diego County from storms since Christmas finally weakened and moved eastward Wednesday, opening the way for at least four storms, the National Weather Service said.

According to forecaster Wilbur Shigehara, satellite pictures show a line of storms from the Gulf of Alaska and to just north of Hawaii.

A 30% chance of rain is forecast for today, increasing to a 40% chance tonight through Friday. Rainfall amounts should be small--a total of only about half an inch is expected through the weekend.

The storms approaching from the west may help replenish the below-normal rainfall totals recorded during January. Only .01 of an inch has fallen so far at Lindbergh Field in a month that usually is the wettest of the year.

Winds picked up Thursday throughout the county, prompting the issuance of a small-craft advisory at sea and a travelers advisory in the mountains.

Forecasters said winds from the east to southeast are expected to blow up to 25 m.p.h. over coastal waters and up to 35 m.p.h. in the mountains.

Shigehara said the showers will stop and start sporadically and the period of cloudy, cooler weather will hold through the weekend.

High temperatures will return to near-normal along the coast and daytime highs inland will slip below average.