Santa Will Be Bringing Frosty Days, Nights for Christmas

Christmas in San Diego County may not be white, but weather forecasters say that it will be cold.

With a slow-moving cold air mass sitting over the region, forecasters at the National Weather Service say that we will be spared the rain storms of last week but the cold weather is here at least through Christmas.

“It won’t get significantly warmer even by Christmas Day. Temperatures will still be lower than usual,” said forecaster Harvey Hastrup.

Near-record lows of 37 degrees were expected Saturday night in downtown, and the temperature is expected to creep up to 39 degrees tonight with a high of 55 degrees with fair skies.

Clouds are expected to arrive on Monday and last through Christmas Day, Hastrup said, with a Monday high of 60 degrees and a high downtown of 64 degrees on Tuesday.

Normal temperatures range from a high of 67 to a low of 48, Hastrup said.

“There’s no chance of rain; it’s all clear. The very cold temperatures will just be creeping ever so slowly warmer on Sunday,” Hastrup said.

The National Weather Service predicts highs between 50 and 55 today at the beaches, warming up to 58 on Monday and 60 on Tuesday with variable high clouds.

The service announced a frost advisory in the coastal areas and a freeze warning in the inland areas Saturday night. The slow warming trend will downgrade the inland freeze warning to a frost advisory by tonight, Hastrup said.

Inland and coastal high temperatures today will range from 53 to 60 degrees, warming to 64 on Monday and staying in the 60s Tuesday.

Mountains and deserts can expect clear and cold weather through tonight, with variable high clouds moving in on Monday, the service said.

Mountain highs tonight range from 26 to 33, warming to as high as 37 on Monday and 45 on Tuesday. Lows Sunday will range from 12 to 20 degrees and remain in the 20s through Christmas Day.

The desert areas, the service said, will have highs between 53 and 58 degrees today, warming to 57 and 63 on Monday and staying in the 60s for Christmas.

Lows Sunday will range from 24 to 30 degrees.