The most powerful winds of the day are over but gusty winds will continue howling around the county tonight with gusty winds possible on Friday.
Light rain showers will turn into heavy rain Thursday afternoon, with heavy rain also possible Friday and Saturday. Flash Flooding will be a concern along with gusty winds capable of bringing down more trees and powerlines.
Rain will be light with most areas receiving less than 0.50" through tonight. The second wave will bring more widespread rain becoming heavy at times, with the threat of localized flooding, ponding on the roadways, and embedded thunderstorms Thursday through Saturday, best chance Friday and Saturday. This last wave will tap into a relatively weak atmospheric river, but it will be slow-moving which means rain will track over the same areas leading to flooding. Preliminary forecast totals will range between 1 to 5 inches of rain.
Snow is already accumulating in Julian and the higher mountains. This first wave of snow will be lighter but will bring unusually low snow levels between 2,000' and 2,500' by tonight. Preliminary accumulations of 1 to 8" expected through Thursday morning with the higher accumulations at the higher elevations.
Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the inland valleys above 2,500 feet until 10am Thursday. Expecting up to an inch of snowfall above 2,500' and a light dusting down to 2,000'. By this weekend we could see a foot or two of snow in Mt. Laguna and Palomar Mountain.
The snow coupled with wind gusts of 50 to 90mph will lead to dangerous blizzard-like conditions, and difficult driving conditions. Most likely chains will be mandatory for some areas, check for restrictions before driving to the mountains.
Snow levels Thursday through Saturday will hover between 3,500' and 4,500' with additional 1 to 12" of snow is possible, but there is higher uncertainty for snowfall totals with this second wave.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect in the mountains until 3pm Saturday for the threat of heavy snow and dangerous winds.
Elevations:
Above 5,000': Mt. Laguna, Palomar Mountain, Lookout Mountain
Above 4,000': Julian, Ranchita, Tierra Del Sol
Above 3,000': Pine Valley, Pine Hills, Descanso, Warner Springs, Otay Mountain
Above 2,500': Campo, Oak Grove, Santa Ysabel
Above 2,000': Alpine, Potrero
Surf:
A High Surf Advisory is in effect along the coast until 3am Thursday for waves of 6 to 10' and sets to 14' leading to dangerous boating conditions.
Showers finally taper off on Sunday though the chilly air lingers; expect temperatures to drop 10 to 25 degrees below average through the weekend.
We won't have much of a break, as another storm will make its way down to San Diego with more rain and snow. Snow levels could hover around 4,500' on Tuesday and Wednesday with chances for rain and snow through the middle of next week.
Stay with your ABC10News Pinpoint Weather Team for the most up-to-date information as the storm makes its way through the county. Be sure to check your tire pressure and tread, replace od windshield wipers, clear drains, and fill sandbags if you live in an area that may flood.
Thursday's Highs:
Coast: 51-55°
Inland: 41-52°
Mountains: 34-42°
Deserts: 55-59°
Follow ABC 10News Meteorologist Angelica Campos on Facebook, Instagram @camposcrusher and Twitter @10NewsCampos
