Today’s Storm to Bring More Rain, Snow to Area

It will be a dark and stormy morning, according to the National Weather Service in San Diego.

After a sunny respite over the weekend, San Diego is in for another wild and woolly rainstorm today. It is expected to ease on Tuesday.

Storm warnings are posted for the mountains with a 70% chance of rain forecast countywide, meteorologist Wilbur Shigehara said. The county can expect up to an inch of rain by Tuesday with winds of up to 25 m.p.h. Showers will be heavy at times, with possible thunderstorms and hail tonight, he said.

In the mountains, blowing and drifting snow will create hazardous conditions, with the snow level dropping to 3,500 feet today and 2,000 by tonight and Tuesday. The storm could drop as much as a foot of new snow by Tuesday, Shigehara said. Temperatures in the 20s, combined with wind gusts of up to 35 m.p.h., will produce dangerously low wind-chill temperatures.Travelers should carry warm clothing and snow chains, he said.

Temperatures today will hover in the 50s along the coast and inland areas, dipping down into the 40s tonight, according to the forecast. Tuesday will remain cold and windy with a 50% chance of showers and thundershowers.

Mountain areas will experience highs in the 30s today and Tuesday, dropping into the 20s at night.

Sunshine should prevail Wednesday, and a warming trend is predicted Thursday and Friday, with temperatures climbing back into the 60s and possibly low 70s.

The March storms have helped boost the area’s rainfall to above normal for this time of year, according to weather statistics. Since July 1, 9.16 inches have fallen at Lindbergh Field, compared to a norm of 7.91 inches.

Mayor Maureen O’Connor has been attempting to persuade the regional water district, the state Department of Water Resources and the San Diego County Water Authority to ease their mandates for a 50% cutback in water consumption by San Diego County residents.

The San Diego City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a variety of water policies, including a new pricing schedule.