Rain May Arrive on Yukon Express

A Yukon Express is expected to blow into San Diego County late today, bringing progressively colder temperatures as Christmas approaches, the National Weather Service said.

A 30% chance of rain is expected tonight and Thursday as the cold front collides with the comparatively warm air already in San Diego, said Wilbur Shigehara, senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service. Winter, which officially arrives at 7:07 p.m. Friday, is expected to be dry but “dreadfully cold,” Shigehara said.

Shigehara said he expects to issue a frost advisory Friday night for the agricultural areas, where temperatures are expected to plunge into the low 20s. The frost advisory also will extend into the inland areas, he said.

“There is no point in delaying the message,” Shigehara said, adding that he made calls to growers Monday alerting them to the possibility of damaging weekend temperatures. “We have 60,000 acres of citrus and avocados that are all frost-sensitive, not to mention a strawberry crop in a post-bloom stage that could be clobbered by 25-degree weather.”

Beach highs today will range from 60 to 65 degrees and drop a degree or two each day through Sunday, Shigehara said.

Coastal and inland highs will be the same today and Thursday, about 58 to 63 degrees, but will struggle to reach the upper 50s by Friday, Shigehara said. Gusty winds of up to 25 m.p.h. will accompany the cold air, he said.

Overnight lows along the coast will range from 42 to 50 tonight and drop a couple of degrees Thursday night, Shigehara said. Inland lows will be 35 to 45 tonight and Thursday night.