First in Series of Storms Springs Into San Diego County

The Pacific storm that arrived Friday, the first day of spring, will continue to provide periodic showers today, forecasters said.

The storm, which originated just south of the Gulf of Alaska, will drop temperatures throughout the county as it deposits up to an inch of rain, said Wilbur Shigehara, chief forecaster for the National Weather Service in San Diego.

Today’s cool temperatures will increase slightly Sunday, then drop again Monday, as a second storm approaches, Shigehara said. A third storm is expected to arrive in San Diego in the middle of next week, he said.

The weather service issued a special agricultural rain statement Thursday, warning growers of the storm’s disruptive potential. According to Doug Anderson, a North County grower, the rains will hamper the harvesting of strawberries, which he said are usually harvested at this time. For Anderson, however, the rains are cause to rejoice.

“The more rain we get, the longer we can go between irrigation,” said Anderson, a grower of lemons, oranges and avocados. “Irrigation doesn’t do the same as rain. The fruit will increase in size with rainwater.”

For other area growers, the agricultural rain advisory will remain in effect until the third storm leaves the area, Shigehara said.

The rain played a key role in more than 70 car accidents, the California Highway Patrol said. The largest of the day involved a garbage truck that overturned on the southbound lanes of Interstate 805 at Home Avenue, CHP Officer Phil Konstantin said. The mid-afternoon wreck closed all the traffic lanes for several hours, he said. Elsewhere, a semi-tractor trailer jackknifed on Interstate 15 in Escondido, causing several other minor accidents, Konstantin said.

Only a few serious injuries, and no deaths, were reported to the CHP, Konstantin said.

Highs in all the lower elevations will be 62 to 67 degrees today, the weather service said. Lows will be in the 50s along the coastal, in the 40s in the inland areas.

In the mountains, up to an inch and a half of rain is expected. The high will peak at 46 degrees and the lows will dip to 36 tonight, it’s predicted.

The deserts will have highs in the upper 60s today and lows in the upper 40s, the weather service said.