Storm to Chill Out County, Bring Rain

A cold and blustery storm from the Bering Sea will bring frost and wind advisories this weekend and rain by Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service, which is calling the front “the first important storm to hit San Diego this season.”

The cold snap will remain through Thanksgiving Day.

Winds of between 20 and 40 m.p.h. are expected throughout the weekend, accompanied by rain of less than a quarter inch by Sunday afternoon, said weather service meteorologist Wilbur Shigehara.

“This is a harbinger of what is to come Sunday,” Shigehara said of today’s gusty winds and chilly temperatures. “If you think the wind is gusty (today), you ain’t seen nothing yet. If you think it’s cool on (today) and Saturday, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

A wind warning for the mountains will be in effect late Sunday and Monday when the winds are expected to whip up between 25 and 50 m.p.h., Shigehara said.

Shigehara on Thursday alerted North County growers of a frost advisory slated for Monday night when temperatures are expected to plunge into the low and mid-20s in the coldest orchards. Frost can damage ripening citrus fruit at 27 degrees and avocados can freeze at 28 to 29 degrees if left unprotected, Shigehara said.

Snow is expected to fall at the 4,500-foot level in the mountains, Shigehara said.

Beach highs today through Sunday will range from 63-67. The ocean water is 64 and the surf is 2 to 4 feet.

Coastal highs today will range from 66-72 and from 65-70 on Saturday and Sunday. The lows tonight and Saturday night will be between 40-50, dipping down to about 35 near Del Mar, and the low Sunday night will range from 45-55.

The high inland today and Saturday will be between 70 and 73 and from 65-70 on Sunday. Overnight lows tonight will range from 32 and 42, bringing frost to some of the colder agricultural areas, and between 35-45 Saturday and Sunday night.

Mountain highs will be between 55-60 Friday and from 45-55 Saturday and Sunday. By Sunday afternoon, temperatures will dip near 40 and by evening snow is expected to fall, Shigehara said.

Mountain lows tonight will range from 25-35 and from 30-40 Saturday night. The low Sunday night will range from 28-38 and will drop into the mid and upper teens Monday and Tuesday night.

Local deserts will have highs today in the 70s, between 65-73 on Saturday and from 65-70 on Sunday while lows will range from 35-45 tonight and from 40-50 Saturday and Sunday night. Frost may hit some of the coldest areas of the desert Sunday night, Shigehara said.