San Diego residents should brace for a weather rollercoaster this week, with forecasters predicting a blend of gusty winds, potential light showers, and a warming trend before a more severe system potentially brings heavier rainfall over the weekend. According to the National Weather Service Forecast Office in San Diego, temperatures are climbing a few degrees warmer today with highs mostly sitting in the 60s for the coast and western valleys, and even reaching mid 70s in the lower deserts.
Strong winds, anticipated to whip up to 45 to 55 mph, are expected to buffet the mountains and deserts late this afternoon through Tuesday morning, potentially making for hazardous travel conditions in the affected regions. As reported by the same source, the winds have prompted a Gale Warning for mariners, with seas getting rough enough to issue a High Surf Advisory for San Diego County beaches through noon today.
The area is not yet done with the wet weather as there is a "chance for light showers for late tonight into Tuesday morning, mainly for San Diego County from the coast to the mountains," as mentioned in the Area Forecast Discussion by NWS San Diego. Tuesday should see a slight chance of showers before noon with skies gradually clearing up, forecasting a high near 64 degrees.
The week is set to dry out midweek and temperatures will continue to rise; however, come the weekend, a "slow moving low pressure system" is expected to usher in periods of precipitation, with the probability for heavier precipitation peaking on Saturday and Sunday, "especially along the coastal slopes of the mountains," according to the latest analysis by NWS San Diego. Amidst this, the 7 Day Forecast predicts a weekend filled with a chance of rain and showers likely, persisting into Sunday.
Beachgoers and surfers should note that the High Surf Advisory has resulted in breaking waves reaching 4 to 7 feet, even surging up to 10 feet in some areas. The advisory, which will be tapering off today, underscores the volatile conditions that have marked the area's weather pattern as we transition further into the spring season.
