So Far, March Is Washout As Second Wettest Month

March is blowing its chance at being the second rainiest month of the year--literally. Gusty winds up to 30 m.p.h. are predicted to stir up the county this weekend, but storms off the coast won’t make it to San Diego.

Partly cloudy skies and lower temperatures will dominate the weekend forecast, said National Weather Service forecaster Wilbur Shigehara. High winds up to 25 m.p.h. along the coast and up to 30 m.p.h. in the mountains are predicted to whip up Sunday, he said.

A high pressure system centered north of Hawaii is deflecting several storms from the Gulf of Alaska, Shigehara said. The extended forecast calls for dry conditions through the end of next week, he said.

“It’s really frustrating and disappointing,” Shigehara said. “These storms look strong, but as they hit that pressure system, they fall apart rapidly. They just can’t override this immovable force.”

March has contributed no rain to the 5.47 inches that have fallen since the start of the rainy season in November, Shigehara said. With less than two weeks left of winter, San Diego is 1.85 inches below the normal 7.05 inches for this time of year, he said.

“San Diego is desperate for rain; we’re grasping at straws,” Shigehara said. “The horizons don’t look too promising either. April is the sixth wettest month of the year.”

Highs at the beaches today and Saturday will range from 56 to 61 degrees and from 55 to 58 degrees Sunday, Shigehara said. The ocean water is 58 and the surf is 3 to 4 feet.

Coastal highs today will range from 63 to 68, nudging up a degree on Saturday, but falling back between 61 and 66 on Sunday, Shigehara said. Overnight lows will be between 47 and 52 tonight and Saturday night, he said.

The seasonal norm is 67 degrees, Shigehara said. The high Thursday at Lindbergh Field was 62.

Highs inland today and Saturday will range in the upper 60s to low 70s. Lows tonight and Saturday night will be between 40 and 47, Shigehara said.