A Spell of Winter-Like Weather to Usher In the New Season

Two small storms should bring high surf, showers and snow to San Diego County today, but the National Weather Service predicts that all should be cleared out by Sunday, the first day of winter.

The smaller of the two storms will pass through the area early this morning, with the second following quickly in its wake, forecaster Wilbur Shigehara said. There is a 20% to 30% chance of showers by late this evening from the second front, leaving San Diego clean and clear, if a bit windy, by Sunday, Shigehara said.

“We’ve got two little-bitty storms coming from the northwest, the Gulf of Alaska that is, but they shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for either the (the San Diego Bay and Mission Bay boat) parades or the shoppers,” Shigehara said “While the storm we predicted earlier this week ended up passing to the south of us, we’ll catch the tail end of these as they pass to the north of us.”

Winter officially arrives in San Diego at 8:02 p.m. Sunday, Shigehara said.

“The winter solstice is Sunday, making it the shortest day of the year,” he said.

Temperatures at the beaches will range between 63 and 66 degrees today and Saturday, and between 65 and 68 Sunday. Lows will be in the 40s, dipping into the upper 30s in the colder coastal valleys.

“We will get big surf, averaging three to five feet, with six- to seven-foot breakers very likely,” Shigehara said. “Luckily, the tides are not very big this weekend. We are still waiting for the big ones at the end of the month.”

Inland highs will be in the upper 60s today and Saturday, climbing into the 70s by Sunday. Lows will be in the 33- to 43-degree range in most inland areas, though they might dip down to 28 in some agricultural areas. If this is the case, frost warnings are likely Saturday and Sunday nights, Shigehara said.

“Temperatures did moderate through this week, and there hasn’t been a frost warning issued since Friday,” he said. “However, these storms should drag the temperatures down to that level again. These types of temperatures (upper 20s) aren’t cold enough to really frighten growers, but they will have their wind machines going for frost protection.”

Mountain areas will have highs between 38 and 42 today and Saturday, and in the mid 40s Sunday. Lows will be in the 20s.

“The mountains should pick up a few showers tonight, and we should see some snow flurries up at the high elevations, like 6,500 feet or so,” Shigehara said.

Desert highs will be in the upper 60s today and Saturday.