THE WEATHER IN BRIEF

By John Coleman

jcoleman@kusi.com

Read John Coleman's daily blog on the Coleman's Corner page of

this website.

What's this? Another rainstorm? Yes, it is exactly that. The reason is basic: it's an El Nino winter when there are more storms and they are a bit heavier and wilder. This one is expected to be the coldest and wildest of the winter. The airmass is unstable and very cold. So not just showers are coming in, but more likely thunderstorms with possible gusty winds and hail and the snow level will comes down by Wednesday to about 2,000 feet with snowflakes likely at Alpine and possible even as low as Ramona. When does this storm happen. Showers begin Wednesday morning, crescendo into thunderstorms by Tuesday evening, peaking during the night and winding down as cool showers and low level snows on Wednesday.

After the rain and snow, look for a nice, sunny warming trend that lasts through Valentines Day and through next week.

Here is the official National Weather Service forecast for San Diego for the next seven days captured from the NWS webpage late on Monday afternoon:

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday: A chance of rain after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 4am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4am. Low around 43. South wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. West wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 68.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Presidents' Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.