Residents in the southwestern region of California should be prepared for a slight midweek weather shift. Forecasters are predicting light rainfall and cooler temperatures today and into Wednesday. According to an update from NWS San Diego, the coastal areas can expect high temperatures ranging between 64 and 71 degrees, while inland valleys may experience highs of 63 to 70 degrees. In contrast, the mountains between 4000 ft and 7000 ft will see cooler conditions with expected highs of 49 to 60 degrees.
The National Weather Service San Diego reports that the anticipated rainfall, primarily focused from the coast to the mountains, is a result of moist onshore flows that are set to continue through Wednesday. While Orange and southwestern San Bernardino Counties might see less than one-tenth inch near the coast and up to a quarter inch near the coastal slopes with locally higher amounts, areas towards the south such as Riverside and San Diego Counties are expected to receive little to no measurable rainfall. Racing at heights unreachable for most, snow levels are forecast to be above 9000 feet.
Winds are also taking center stage in the region's weather narrative. "There will be areas of stronger and gusty southwest to west winds for the mountains and deserts for today and tonight with the stronger gusts to 35 to 45 mph," as reported by NWS San Diego. These gusty conditions are projected to persist through the night and may impact visibility for motorists and outdoor activities.
Looking ahead, the NWS expects conditions to dry out and warm up slightly for Thursday through Saturday. The valleys could see temperatures rise to 5 to 10 degrees above average by Saturday, creeping into the mid-70s to lower 80s. For those planning to venture to local beaches, elevated surf is expected with the arrival of a south swell, prompting a high risk of rip currents Wednesday and Thursday for south-facing beaches. Building the excitement further, these swells are foreseen to slowly diminish by Friday.
