The remnants of Hurricane Priscilla are making their presence known across Southern California, with the National Weather Service San Diego forecasting an increase in shower and thunderstorm activity for Thursday and Friday. According to a bulletin from NWS San Diego, a low-pressure system off the West Coast will be responsible for drawing tropical moisture into the area late this week.
Specifically, residents in Orange, San Diego, western Riverside, and southwestern San Bernardino counties should brace for these conditions. Although Thursday morning could begin with bands of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms moving northwestward, heavier rainfall is expected in the mountainous areas eastward across the deserts, including a chance of stormy conditions generating rainfall around 1.5 inches. For those near the coast or in portions of the valleys, not much change in high temperatures is anticipated, with coastal temperatures hovering around 70 degrees.
Regarding potential impacts, the NWS Forecast Office in San Diego, CA, has issued a heads-up for possible localized flooding in mountain areas. Besides, it's not just the mountains; San Diego County and the lower deserts are cited as having the best chances for showers and storms, with probabilities ranging from 25% to 40%. The Inland Empire and Orange County might see a lesser likelihood of precipitation, with a chance between 15% and 25%.
As the weekend approaches, conditions will dry out and cool down significantly. Residents can anticipate a noticeable temperature dip, especially in the higher elevations, which could see temperatures drop 12 to 18 degrees below average by Monday. However, this break might be short-lived. Tuesdays might bring showers back into the forecast, with the NWS indicating a 20-30% chance for coastal regions to the mountains, and possibly up to 10% for an inch or more of rainfall in certain mountainous areas. The maritime community should be aware of potential wind gusts near San Clemente Island on Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings, and the slight chance of thunderstorms may result in lightning, erratic winds, or choppy seas.
Finally, beachgoers should take note of the 5-15% chance of thunderstorms producing lightning late this week. The NWS has clarified that no Skywarn activation is requested, yet they encourage weather spotters to report significant conditions.
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