Strong Winter storm expected to hit San Diego this week

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A strong winter storm was expected to descend upon San Diego County this week, bringing with it unseasonably cold weather, rain, gusty winds and mountain snow, forecasters said Sunday.

A National Weather Service winter storm watch was scheduled for the mountains Tuesday afternoon through the following day.

Included in the watch were Boulevard, Campo, Cuyamaca, Descanso. Julian, Lake Henshaw, Morena Village, Mount Laguna, Oak Grove, Pine Valley, Santa Ysabel and Warner Springs.

Forecasters said snow and ice from storm would cause “major travel problems” on mountain roadways and those in higher desert areas. Travel on Interstate 8 at Sunrise Summit could also be affected, because blowing snow may reduce visibility to less than half a mile, according to the NWS.

“A very strong cold storm originating in the Gulf of Alaska will move southeast into Canada, then south into Southern California,” according to the NWS. “Snow levels are expected to rapidly fall with the system Tuesday night into Wednesday, reaching around 2,000 feet by Wednesday morning.”

Forecasters expected up to four inches of snow to accumulate in desert floor areas and up to eight inches in the mountains. Sustained northeast winds of up to 35 miles per hour with gusts of more than 50 mph were also expected.

Rain will be likely Tuesday evening along the coast and in the valleys, forecasters said.