SoCal residents, brace yourselves for a deluge and potential flooding this week as an atmospheric river aims the region, the National Weather Service San Diego warns. According to NWS San Diego's X post, heavy rain and strong winds are predicted to hit late Sunday into Monday, with additional precipitation expected through Friday. Areas such as Orange County, parts of the Inland Empire, and the San Bernardino Mountains are slated for significant downpours paired with gusty southerly winds, especially fierce along the coast and near mountainous terrain.
(1/5) Heavy rain, strong winds, & high elevation snow this week. While there are still some details with timing that need to be worked out, confidence is growing the heaviest, most widespread precipitation will occur late Sun into Mon. Additional precipitation expected Tue-Fri. pic.twitter.com/ZmGytfzM53
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) February 3, 2024
Flood warnings are in full effect, particularly for Monday when rainfall peak is forecast; the NWS urges prompt preparations for those in flood-prone zones. "Make sure you take steps now to prepare, especially if you live in a flood prone location," mentioned in the NWS San Diego tweet, emphasizing the dangers of driving through flooded roadways. Snow levels, beginning at altitudes between 7000-8000 feet, will drop to around 5500 feet by Tuesday, further complicating conditions in the higher elevations.
The Area Forecast Discussion by the National Weather Service provides a detailed outlook; a low-pressure system ramping up off the California coast is expected to generate lighter precipitation starting tonight or early Sunday before switching to heavy rainfall later Sunday and early Monday. This weather narrative, unfolding through next week, describes moderate to heavy precipitation for parts of Southern California from Sunday through Tuesday, with heaviest rainfall around Monday, and giving the snow-capped mountains a nod for potentially heavy snow Monday night into Tuesday.
Marine conditions are set to mirror the chaos onshore, with marine advisories in place due to anticipated south to southeast winds kicking up 25-30 knots and rough seas from Sunday morning into Monday, and beachgoers are cautioned about high surf and strong rip currents. "An incoming southwest swell ... is expected generate high surf Sunday night into Monday," the NWS' discussion decreed, predicting sets up to 10 feet. Moreover, the San Diego River is on track to flood over low-water crossings come Monday morning, with a crest slated to occur late Monday afternoon into Tuesday, falling hot on the heels of previous flooding episodes seen in parts of Southern California just last week.
