San Diego is in for a chilling weather surprise, as temperatures across Southern California dip below typical marks. NWS San Diego reports that highs today will struggle to meet their norms, sitting around 5-7 degrees below usual in the coastal and desert areas, with a more stark 10-20 degree shortfall in the valleys and mountains.
Adding to the cold snap, a succession of storm systems is ushering in bouts of precipitation, with the second wave expected Monday afternoon through Wednesday. While the rain is essential, it has residents reaching for heavier jackets, as snow levels are dropping as low as 5,000-5,500 ft early this week.
The forecast, conflicting as it is with rains that sometimes fall lightly, has meteorologists issuing wide-ranging predictions. The Area Forecast Discussion by the National Weather Service San Diego acknowledges, "While ensembles are in generally good agreement with the progression of the next closed upper low, small deviations in the track are resulting in continued spread in rainfall amounts."
Not to be forgotten, a third storm looms later in the week, its details shrouded in uncertainty. What forecasters do know is that there is at least a 40% chance of rainfall between Thursday and Friday. The exact onset and impact of this system, however, remains up in the air with potential snowfall implications. Returning briefly, the dry conditions of Wednesday evening might give some pre-storm reprieve before we need to unpack the umbrellas once more.
Trickling down to travelers, these weather patterns are causing a ripple effect. Variability in visibility and scattered showers according to the National Weather Service San Diego will continue "through most of the period," affecting flights with cloud cover ranging from 3000-5000 ft MSL and temporary drops to "1500-2500 ft MSL under SHRA, along with VIS to 2-5 SM." Similarly, seafarers are bracing for a rough ride with showers that may occasionally bring winds to 15-20 kts and locally choppy seas through early morning.
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