Forecasters Promise Warmer Days Ahead

After two weeks of rain and cold, forecasters have sunnier news for San Diegans: Warmer days are just around the corner.

But the mercury’s rise isn’t expected for another three days, and until then, San Diegans will just have to bundle up, said Richard Stitt of the National Weather Service.

“We’re expecting warmer temperatures sometime around the middle of this week, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, but until then, it’s going to be cold,” Stitt said.

During the recent chill, temperatures have been holding steady about 10 degrees below seasonal highs of 65 and lows of 48.

In Los Angeles County, snowflakes were sighted in several communities Saturday morning, including Sherman Oaks and Van Nuys, but disappeared as they touched the ground. The low temperature early Saturday at the Los Angeles Civic Center was 35 degrees, the coldest morning so far this winter.

San Diego forecasters say sunshine today will accompany slightly higher temperatures, 53 to 58 along the coast and 54 to 60 inland. But overnight temperatures will once again drop into the high 30s. A frost advisory will also be in effect in the agricultural districts tonight, Stitt said.

The sustained cold is a result of a high-pressure system off the Pacific Coast. The front, which extends north to the Gulf of Alaska, is channeling cold air down to San Diego, Stitt said.

“Once this kind of a pattern develops, it’s hard to break,” he said. “The high-pressure system keeps sending down the cold air.”

On Monday, temperatures are expected to range between 56 and 61 along the coast and between 57 and 65 inland, forecasters say.

Temperatures Saturday at Lindbergh Field reached a high of 55 and a low of 39.

In the mountains, a wind-chill advisory was issued as forecasters warned of gusts of 25 to 35 m.p.h. that threatened to lower temperatures to 30 degrees below zero with the wind factor.