San Diegans should expect a little sunshine to cut through the mid-week gloom, forecasts show. After a damp start to the week, with scattered light showers hitting the coast through to the mountains on Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service is reporting a turn for the warmer. Temperatures today will nudge a few degrees higher than Monday's, hitting the 60s to around 70 along the coast and western valleys, and up to mid 60s in the inland valleys, according to the NWS Forecast Office in San Diego.
The brief respite from the rain isn't expected to last long though, as a colossal low pressure system lingering off the West Coast is set to roll in, spelling a soggy end to the week. This system is due to bring rainfall from Friday night through to Monday, with 'periods of precipitation' and a possibility for thunderstorms over the weekend, the NWS detailed in a discussion. The forecast, however, still promises a temperature spike on Wednesday, with the mercury creeping a tad higher — yet still trailing a few degrees behind the average.
Looking ahead, the impending low pressure system threatens to saturate the region, with the latest modeling suggesting significant precipitation across swathes of Southwestern California. "NBM chances for one-quarter inch or more of rainfall for early Saturday to early Tuesday exceed 90 percent for the coast to the mountains," the NWS said. They've also flagged a likely spike in snow levels to around 6500 feet starting Friday afternoon, dropping back down to 5500 feet by Sunday.
For locals taking to the skies or the sea, the short-term outlook is kinder. Through Wednesday morning, coastal and valley airports may contend with cloud bases hovering at 1200-2000 feet, while mariners have nothing but smooth sailing in the forecast until Saturday. "No hazardous marine conditions are expected through Saturday," NWS reports state. Although, gusts of wind could whip up to around 20 knots at times late Thursday into Saturday. Desert regions should remain mostly clear with westerly winds persisting up to 30 knots through the morning hours.
