‘Significant’ Storm Is Due Early Sunday

The partly cloudy skies expected today are merely a foreshadowing of the thunder and lightning, high surf and snow forecast for Sunday from a “significant” storm moving into San Diego County, the National Weather Service said.

“The storm should hit at sometime around dawn on Sunday,” forecaster Wilbur Shigehara said. “It’s packing some cold air, and should bring half an inch to an inch of rain to San Diego as well as some snow in the local mountains. It’s not a small storm; we are classifying it more as a significant one.”

It will carry over until Monday, with skies expected to clear somewhat on Tuesday, Shigehara said.

This is the same storm, originating from north of Hawaii, that was kicking up the surf last weekend before the record high tides (7.8 feet on Wednesday) hit, Shigehara said. Waves are expected to range between five and eight feet through at least Monday.

“We are still listing tides as being at ‘levels of concern,’ ” he said. “Before, we had high tides because of astronomical reasons, now they’re continuing because of the high surf. We are telling people that unless they’re very strong swimmers, they shouldn’t attempt to go out into the surf.”

Skiers should be especially delighted about the coming storm, Shigehara said, because it will not only bring some snow to local mountains but to the barren Sierras as well.

“I understand a lot of the ski resorts haven’t even opened yet because of the lack of snow,” he said. “Hopefully, that will change after this storm passes through. At our local mountains, the snow level will be down to about 4,000 feet. The rain will hit first, but as evening approaches and the air cools, the rain should turn into snow. Perhaps as much as a foot of it should fall up there from this storm.”

Shigehara likened the approaching storm to the one that passed through San Diego on Dec. 20, also bringing with it thunder, lightning and gusty winds.

“This one will probably be the same type of storm,” he said. “We are predicting the thunderstorms, as well as the high surf and cool and blustery days.”

Because urban street flooding is expected in the usual areas such as Mission Valley, Shigehara said motorists should plan alternate routes and be aware of the approaching storm.

“It might not be the best of traveling days, which is too bad since it is also the end of a four-day weekend for a lot of people,” he said.

Coastal highs will be in the mid 60s today and Sunday, with lows in the 45- to 52-degree range. Inland highs will be between 68 and 73, with overnight lows ranging from 35 to 45.

Mountains highs both days will be in the low 50s, with lows between 28 and 38 degrees. Desert highs will be in the low 70s and overnight temperatures will dip into the upper 30s.