Cold front expected in San Diego County
A low pressure system out of the Gulf of Alaska
brought rain, strong winds and much cooler temperatures to San Diego County
on Friday.
The National Weather Service forecast daytime highs today in the 50s and
lower 60s in lower elevations, and in the 30s and 40s in the mountains —
about 25 to 35 degrees cooler than highs recorded in the region earlier this
week.
Rainfall totals from the system today were expected to be a tenth- to a
quarter-inch near the coast, while around a half-inch was expected in the
mountains. Less than a tenth of an inch will fall in the deserts, forecasters
said.
The drop in the temperature from the cold front will lower the local
snow level to 4,500 to 5,000 feet by this afternoon, and to around 4,000 feet
tonight into Saturday. According to the Weather Service, three to six inches of
snowfall is possible above 4,500 feet and around six to 12 feet could
accumulate on the highest peaks later today.
A winter storm warning is scheduled for areas above 4,500 feet from 6
tonight to noon Saturday, when up to 10 inches of snow is possible on the
highest peaks, according to a NWS advisory. That includes the rural communities
of Cuyamaca, Mount Laguna and Ranchita.
A winter storm warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected and may make travel dangerous. Strong gusty winds will also likely
affect travel in the mountains and deserts.
According to the weather service, residents and visitors in those areas
today can expect sustained west winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, gusting up to
65 mph over the ridges and through wind-prone passes.
A high wind warning for mountain and desert areas is set to expire at
noon, at which time a less-serious wind advisory will take effect. The weather
service scheduled the wind advisory from noon to 3 a.m. Saturday.
The agency also issued a small craft advisory today for coastal waters
off San Diego County. The coastal advisory is scheduled to remain in effect
through late Saturday night.
Mariners can expect 3-foot wind waves this morning, becoming 2 feet or
less as the day goes on.
