Cooler With Spring Showers Possible for the Southland

A storm system the National Weather Service predicted should bring no more than spring showers is on tap for Southern California today.

The winter-like trough of low pressure from the Gulf of Alaska will bring winds and maybe rain “but nothing ferocious,” a forecaster said Tuesday.

Unless the storm intensifies as it dips south down the Pacific Coast, the chance of rain in all parts of San Diego County was forecast at 30%, the weather service said.

Although rain would be welcome before the dry months begin, San Diego County’s seasonal rain total is ahead of the average so far this year. Since July 1, 9.03 inches of rain have fallen, as compared to the norm of 8.01.

Early storm watching Tuesday indicated that we may be in for a surprise. The same weather system brought moderate to heavy rain, hail and snow to Northern and Central California communities.

Light snow fell north of San Francisco, and accumulations of three inches were reported at Redding.

A spokesman for the state Flood Information Center said snow was falling at altitudes as low as 300 feet along the North Coast, in the wine country north of Napa and in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Heavier snow fell in the foothills and mountains, temporarily closing some lanes of such Northern California and trans-Sierra highways as Interstate 5, Interstate 80 and California 299.

The front brought relatively strong winds and cold temperatures to most areas of Northern and Central California. Winds up to 45 m.p.h. were reported in Sacramento.

At sea, gale warnings were up from Point Arena north, with winds expected to gust to 45 m.p.h.

Cooler Temperatures

Farther south, winds were expected to top off at around 35 m.p.h. today as the front moves through Southern California.

It will be cooler in San Diego County, with highs between 61 and 66 expected and overnight lows ranging from 48 to 56 degrees along the coastal strip and 42 to 50 degrees inland.

The front is likely to have passed through the state by Thursday morning, with skies turning partly cloudly and gradually clearing, forecasters said.

A warming trend will begin Thursday, and the extended outlook appears promising for the weekend: clear skies and highs in the low 70s.