Alaskan Weather System Bringing Rain, High Surf

High surf and rain are forecast to hit San Diego County today as an Alaskan weather system traveling offshore moves inland for a two-day storm.

The National Weather Service on Monday predicted rainfall totals of 0.25 to 0.50 of an inch along the coast and in inland valleys today and Wednesday, and as much as 0.75 of an inch in the mountains.

The surf may swell to 7 feet, but forecasters did not issue a heavy-surf warning Monday.

“This system is a tricky little rascal because it has dropped southward rapidly without giving much precipitation along the way--it has been offshore,” forecaster Harvey Hastrup said.

Forecasters expect the storm to turn inland just south of San Diego in Baja California.

“It is unusual. A system from the Gulf of Alaska usually moves inland in Northern California. It appears that most of the activity will bend inland to the south, and we will catch some of it,” Hastrup said.

A 60% chance of rain was predicted for today. “This could change abruptly, you never know about these things. We could be off by 100 miles and that would throw the whole thing off,” Hastrup said.

Cloudy skies are expected to moderate temperatures, and nighttime lows should return to normal. Lows are expected to be in the 50s along the coast and in the 40s inland. Daytime highs in the 60s in all areas are expected.