Second Wave of Wet, Blustery Storm to Wash In

A “storm wave” that earlier pummeled Northern California hit San Diego County this weekend with a flurry of blustery winds and heavy showers. The storm is expected to continue through Monday, said Grady Svoboda, National Weather Service forecaster.

“This storm is part of a series of waves from the same storm,” he said. “This is only part. We will have several occurrences. It will taper off and pick back up again.”

Another wave bringing more rain is expected to arrive sometime this afternoon. “We’ll have heavy showers at times in localized areas,” Svoboda said.

Area winds should range from 15 to 25 m.p.h. today, picking up to 30 m.p.h. in the mountains.

The same front, originating in the Gulf of Alaska, had brought 1 1/2 inches of rain to Fallbrook and the Palomar Mountains by mid-afternoon Saturday, but most areas received only traces of rain.

“The county was mixed,” he said. “It was raining right up to San Diego but not in San Diego. (The storm) sat there before moving on.”

But by Saturday evening, 0.63 of an inch had fallen at Lindbergh Field.

Up to another inch of rain is expected through tonight, Svoboda said.

While mountain areas such as Mt. Laguna had to contend with freezing rain Saturday, Svoboda said there is no snow in the forecast.

“The freezing is up around the 7,900-foot level,” he said. “Even the highest mountain in our areas shouldn’t get much snow. They should get ice, maybe a few flakes, but primarily rain.”

On Monday, the snow level may be as low as 5,000 feet.

Temperatures will remain brisk, with highs of 50 to 55 at the beaches and 52 to 57 on the coastal strip and inland valleys.

The mountains should have daytime highs of 36 to 44 degrees and nighttime lows of 22 to 30 degrees. The desert will range 58 to 66 degrees during the day and 36 to 44 at night.

The water temperature is 55 degrees.