San Diego in the Path of Wave of Rainstorms

Heavy rains, flood conditions and strong, blustery winds have been forecast countywide today by the National Weather Service in San Diego.

A vigorous storm, kept at bay Monday by a high-pressure center, is expected to move ashore early this morning, meteorologist Wilbur Shigehara said. The winter storm, originating in the Gulf of Alaska, is the first of four due in rapid succession this week.

“It’s packing a lot of punch with big rains, big winds and cold temperatures,” Shigehara said. Daytime temperatures will hover in the low 60s into the weekend, dipping down into the 40s at night.

Storm warnings have been issued for the mountains because wind gusts up to 40 m.p.h. are expected, Shigehara said.

As much as 2 1/2 inches of rain could fall in the mountains by this morning with snow dropping down to 5,000 feet, he said. Snowdrifts up to a foot may accumulate, and chains will probably be required on mountain roads.

Along the coast, up of an inch of rain is expected along with wind gusts up to 35 m.p.h., Shigehara said. Urban residents should be wary of flooding as gutters and creeks fill, he said. Foothill areas will receive up to 1 1/2 inches.

The first storm will move slowly east this afternoon, but a second storm is expected to arrive by Wednesday, Shigehara said. A half of an inch is expected from this storm, with more than an inch predicted for the mountains.

Toward Friday, a third storm will arrive with frigid winds that could plunge the snow line down to 4,000 feet, Shigehara said. The confrontation of cold Alaskan air and warmer air over San Diego could set off thunderstorms and hail, he said. A fourth storm will arrive early next week.

The wave of winter storms is ironic, Shigehara said. Winter is normally the wettest time of the year, but the heavy rains are only now starting to fall.

“We’ll have a winter storm on Wednesday, the first day of spring,” he said. However, because the storms are arriving so late in the rainy season, they are expected to provide only a temporary respite from the drought.