San Diego is bracing for mixed weather conditions through the weekend and next week. According to NWS San Diego, the region can expect light rain, with totals generally remaining below 0.1 inches. However, mountain areas like San Bernardino County might see up to 0.5 inches of rain. This precipitation is mainly forecasted for late this afternoon and into tonight.
In addition, the weather will also bring gusty winds, particularly in the deserts and mountain passes. Wind gusts in the deserts and desert slopes of the mountains may reach 25 to 35 mph, while the mountain passes could see gusts between 35-45 mph between Saturday and Sunday morning.
According to the same source, today's temperatures will be cooler than Friday. West of the mountains, temperatures will be below average, but a bit above normal in the deserts. The cooling trend is expected to continue into Sunday, with temperatures below normal across the board, save for desert areas, which will be closer to their usual readings.
An atmospheric river affecting central California is slowly moving southward, as indicated by an area forecast discussion from NWS San Diego. The weather pattern means increased moisture and lower temperatures across southern California. Light precipitation could impact areas like northern Orange County, western Riverside County, and southwestern San Bernardino County by this afternoon or evening. However, as the atmospheric river makes its way southeast, it's expected to lose much of its energy and moisture, making significant rainfall less likely as it reaches areas south and east of Los Angeles.
Despite the minimal rainfall, this system is forecast to result in stronger onshore flows with gusty west winds across the mountain regions and adjacent desert slopes today and Sunday. The mountains could see wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph. Cloud cover associated with this system will also keep daytime high temperatures west of the mountains 5-10 degrees below seasonal averages through the middle of the week, with another potential surge of moisture anticipated to maintain the cool, unsettled conditions through Wednesday. Towards the end of next week, conditions are predicted to become warmer and drier as the weather patterns shift.
For mariners, the good news is that no hazardous marine conditions are expected through Wednesday. While Skywarn activation is not requested, weather spotters are encouraged to report any significant conditions they observe during this period of varied weather.
