San Diego residents are bracing for a day of gusty winds, with the National Weather Service warning of gusts hitting up to 40 mph at the coast and a blustery 50 to 60 mph in the mountains and deserts. The gusts could reach even higher in specific areas, as strong winds continue to sweep through the region today. The NWS has also forecast Gale Force winds in excess of 30-35 knots over coastal waters, indicating a rough day ahead for mariners as well, according to information obtained from the NWS website.
Temperatures are taking a nosedive as well. Residents can expect a cooler day with highs below normal, and chillier conditions tonight, especially across the Inland Empire, where frost and freeze conditions are likely for inland valleys. As the trough of low-pressure hunkers over the region, scattered precipitation and persistent windy conditions will persist, with a shift in wind patterns anticipated by Monday according to information obtained from the NWS's Area Forecast Discussion.
Travel advisories are mounting, with the NWS asserting that strong winds could undermine outdoor activities and driving conditions across various counties. "Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs may be blown down," warned the NWS, as it extended a high wind warning and advisories for multiple regions. These conditions are not to be taken lightly by locals or those passing through, with special emphasis on precaution for high-profile vehicles. Details of the wind strength and impact were shared on a NWS advisory update.
The coast isn't spared from nature's forces either, with a high surf advisory in effect until early Monday, making for perilous swimming and surfing conditions and potential beach erosion. Erosions are particularly threatening because of the combined effects of long and short-period swells hitting the coastline. "Large breaking waves of 5 to 8 feet with sets to 10 feet," are expected across San Diego County Coastal Areas, culminating in what promises to be a punishing morning for the county's surf. Moreover, areas like the Inland Empire are under a freeze watch, with sub-freezing temperatures as low as 26 degrees forecasted for late Sunday through Monday morning, threatening crops, sensitive vegetation, and outdoor plumbing.
The upcoming week offers a slight reprieve with the arrival of a weak ridge of high pressure expected to quiet things down on Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing dry weather and moderating overnight temperatures. However, residents are advised to stay vigilant as the weather models indicate the potential for cooler conditions and breezy weather towards the end of the week, as reported by the NWS.
