The National Weather Service in San Diego has issued a series of weather-related advisories for Southern California with a barrage of rain, wind, and snow expected to disrupt travel and outdoor activities over the holiday season. An atmospheric river is expected to drench the region in heavy rainfall, with the heaviest downpours forecasted for Christmas Eve, according to the NWS in San Diego. On Christmas Day, the area should brace for locally heavy and more scattered rain showers.
The forecast also warns of gusty south winds developing on Tuesday afternoon, expected to peak overnight into Wednesday morning. Coastal areas could see gusts over 35 mph, with the San Bernardino foothills and desert slopes facing stronger gusts between 45 and 55 mph. High-elevation areas may be covered in snow from late Thursday night, continuing into the weekend, presenting challenges for travelers and residents in those areas.
Further details from NWS San Diego's Area Forecast Discussion underscore the severity of the incoming weather, with possible roadway flooding and localized flash flooding expected to start along the coast and extend into the deserts. "The highest risk for flash flooding on Christmas Eve is for the San Bernardino County mountains with a high risk for excessive rainfall that could result in damaging and potentially life-threatening flash flooding," the forecast states. Snow levels, initially above 9,000 feet, are predicted to drop to around 5,000 feet by early Saturday, potentially impacting mountain communities and travel routes.
Ahead of the storm, the NWS San Diego has issued a High Surf Advisory from tonight to Saturday afternoon, as well as a Wind Advisory from the early hours through 10 PM PST on Wednesday for several areas, including Orange County and the Inland Empire. Additionally, a Flood Watch is in effect from late tonight through late Wednesday night for San Diego County Coastal Areas, among others, during which "rapid rises in small streams and increased flow in main stem rivers expected." The NWS San Diego warns of 2.5 to 3.5 inches of rainfall near the coast, with 6 to 8 inches on the coastal slopes of the San Bernardino County mountains, and isolated totals of up to around 12 inches. For the high desert, 1.5 to 3.5 inches of rain is expected near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, with 0.75 to 1.5 inches for the lower deserts.
As the condition deteriorates, the aviation sector may also feel the brunt; the main band of widespread SHRA will move into the region from the northwest to the southeast starting Wednesday morning, bringing moderate to heavy precipitation with vis reductions 1-3 SM along with strong south to SE winds, the forecast details. In anticipation of these disruptions, the NWS encourages weather spotters to report significant weather conditions through its Skywarn program. The convergence of heavy precipitation, powerful winds, and subsequent snowfall atop the high terrain illustrates the might of winter weather in Southern California, urging communities to prepare for the potent storm system as it unfolds.
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