San Diegans, brace yourselves for a rollercoaster weather ride this holiday season. According to the National Weather Service in San Diego, we're in for a wave of high temperatures through Monday, with the mercury ticking up 10 to 15 degrees above normal inland. As the coast and western valleys wake up to a shroud of patchy fog, it's the inland that will feel the sun's unforgiving embrace.
The ascent of warm and dry weather continues unfettered, it's holding steady, and it's not looking to let up any time soon; at least not until the region is hit by a seasonal about-face — a low-pressure system ushering in what's being termed a weak to moderate Atmospheric River, bringing with it the promise of widespread heavy rain and mountain snow as we approach Christmas Eve. A special note for those hitting the roads or taking to the skies: visibility may be compromised with the coastal fog lying low each morning through Tuesday, the NWS cautions.
For folks dreaming of a wet Christmas, it seems like Santa's riding in with Mother Nature as his plus one this year. The NWS forecast is fairly confident about a substantial soaking on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with "increasing confidence in heavy rain and flooding impacts," which could cause potential trouble for travelers and residents alike. And let the festive spirit not be overshadowed by worries about floods and slides.
Post-Christmas plans could still be dampened, with shower chances floating around 50-60% on Friday and lowering to 20-30% by Saturday; however, this wet reprieve adds a new twist to the tale, the lower snow levels could mean slick conditions on those mountain highways so if you're planning a getaway or have family coming into town, plan accordingly and stay updated through official channels.
The Hydrology section of the NWS forecast sounds the alarm for the San Gabriel Mountains in particular, where the chances of staggering rainfalls exceeding 3 inches have increased significantly. The risk of flooding cuts across the region's diverse landscape, from the urban sprawl to the serene desolation of the deserts. And let's not forget, this deluge will fall as rain up until Christmas morning, with snow levels way above 8,000 feet, which means plenty of rain boots are going to make a fashion comeback this festive season.
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