Rain Washes Out ’89 as Contender for Driest Year

Kiss goodby all the recent hubbub about 1989 being the driest year in San Diego history.

At precisely 4:37 p.m. Thursday, a rainstorm washed away 1989’s dehydrated status and, in the process, created a nightmarish commute for many San Diegans.

The California Highway Patrol reported numerous fender-benders and back-to-back traffic on freeways as a result of the unexpected rain shortly before rush hour. And Thursday night’s Holiday Bowl Parade downtown was canceled.

National Weather Service forecaster Wilbur Shigehara said, “We are no longer the driest year on record. We got our quarter inch.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Shigehara had called the seemingly light rainfall “close, but no cigar.” It took less than half an hour for San Diego to rocket from 2.82 to 3.07 inches of rain. Thursday’s rain meant that 1863 retained the record of driest year on record status with its 3.02 inches of rain, he said.

Officially, 1.01 inches of rain fell between 4 and 8 p.m. Thursday, the most rain in San Diego in one day since April 21, 1988, when 1.33 inches fell.

Snow flurries were also reported on Mt. Laguna at the 6,200-foot level, and in the Cuyamacas and Julian at 5,000 feet, Shigehara said. A storm from the Gulf of Alaska that entered Northern California and intensified over Southern California is responsible for the sudden rainfall.

“This is not a very big storm, and it will weaken by Friday, leaving us with only spotty showers,” Shigehara said.

“By the time the Holiday Bowl game kicks off at 5 o’clock, it will be only partly cloudy, and cool, and less than a 20% chance of rain.”

When Penn State squares off against Brigham Young University at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium tonight, the temperature will be about 60 degrees, and drop to 55 degrees by the end of the game, Shigehara said. Fans should dress warmly, he advised.

Countywide, there will be slightly warmer days and slightly cooler nights beginning Saturday, when it will be partly cloudy everywhere. Sunday and New Year’s Day, however, should be sunny.

Beach highs today will be 60 to 65, nudging up a degree or two each day through Monday, Shigehara said. The ocean temperature is 59 degrees, and the surf is 3 to 6 feet.

Coastal highs today will be 62 to 67, and a degree or two higher on the weekend. Overnight lows will be 42 to 52 tonight and 36 to 46 Saturday and New Year’s Eve.

Inland highs through the long holiday weekend will be in the mid- to upper-60s, Shigehara said. Lows tonight will be 38 to 48, and 33 to 43 degrees Saturday and Sunday nights.

There may be a dusting of frost in some of the colder agricultural areas. Temperatures Sunday and Monday morning could dip into the low 30s and upper 20s, Shigehara said.

Snow flurries in the mountains are expected to end today, and skies will be partly cloudy through the weekend, Shigehara said. Mountain highs through Monday will be in the mid-30s to low-40s, and overnight lows will be in the mid- to upper 20s.

Desert highs will hover near 70 today and Saturday, edging up a couple degrees Sunday and Monday. Nights will be chilly with lows in the mid-30s.