As Southern California grapples with a burst of wild weather this holiday season, officials are keeping a close eye on the skies with the National Weather Service in San Diego issuing updates on the continuing conditions. Winds have been whipping up to 65 mph in the San Bernardino County mountains, while widespread showers move across Orange and southwestern San Bernardino Counties, leaving the region drenched and residents bracing for more to come.
The latest forecast from the NWS San Diego explains that we'll see showers tapering off Friday night and early Saturday, followed by a drier spell Sunday and Monday. However, anyone ringing in the New Year outdoors might want to carry an umbrella just in case—showers could return in the latter half of next week, around New Year's Day. Meanwhile, Orange County has been hit with isolated rainfall of one-third to one-half inch, and the western San Bernardino Mountains even saw lightning strikes before midnight.
Despite the stormy weather, skies are expected to slowly clear as the system rolls through. For aviators, it's been a turbulent time with coastal and valley areas experiencing patchy low clouds and gusts reaching up to 30 knots. The marine environment isn't faring much better, as the Small Craft Advisory has been lifted, but winds will pick right back up again by Friday, potentially exceeding 20 knots, as reported by NWS San Diego. Beachgoers are being warned of surf reaching heights of 8 feet, which could produce dangerous conditions for those brave enough to enter the water.
Turning to hydrology, the region is closely monitoring shower activity and its impact on the terrain. The snow level, which dropped to around 6500 feet today, could see 8 to 14 inches of new snow accumulation above 8000 feet. "Scattered showers will continue today with the greatest coverage and amounts in the San Bernardino County mountains," the NWS San Diego noted. By Friday afternoon, anyone in Orange and southwestern San Bernardino Counties can expect additional rainfall ranging from around 1 inch near the coast to 2 to 3 inches in the mountains, and possibly up to 4 inches in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains. Shower activity is expected to dwindle by Saturday afternoon, offering some respite to the drenched areas.
Lastly, to all the Skywarn volunteers out there, while not explicitly requested, your efforts in reporting significant weather conditions are as invaluable as ever. As unpredictable weather persists, every report can help paint a clearer picture of how the region is faring and what preparations might be necessary for the rest of the holiday season and into the new year. Stay safe, and stay informed as the skies above Southern California continue to showcase their winter temperament.
