San Diego gets 1st significant rainfall, snow of year
Nearly 100,000 San Diegans could loose power during the next round of power shutoffs after the National Weather Service issued another Red Flag Warning for the region for Monday and Tuesday as Santa Ana winds return.
Most San Diegans woke up Monday to puddles or downpours, a welcome respite from the 40-plus day drought the region had experienced. The county's first significant rainstorm of the season brought totals Monday ranging from a quarter to half an inch near the coast to more than an inch in the mountain slopes, according to the National Weather Service.
On the heels of critical fire weather, fueled by gusty Santa Ana winds, those in San Diego County’s mountain areas will soon be under a Winter Storm Watch, according to the National Weather
Some areas in Southern California, a region plagued by drought conditions, saw more than inch of rain this weekend.
Scattered rain showers fell across San Diego County over the weekend, bringing some slight respite during what the National Weather Service has referred to as the driest start to San Diego's water year.
Overnight, isolated lightning strikes were reported, primarily over coastal waters and nearby land areas, but thunderstorm chances were expected to decrease by Monday morning.
With parts of Los Angeles County still smoldering from wildfires, the expected rain this weekend would seem like a welcome relief. But how the rain falls could make the difference between a disaster respite or a disaster repeat.
Officials cautioned that ash in recent burn zones was a toxic mix of incinerated cars, electronics, batteries, building materials, paints, furniture and other household items.
San Diego County's first significant rainstorm of the season brought totals Monday ranging from a quarter to half an inch near the coast to over an inch in the mountain slopes, according to the National Weather Service.
The City of San Diego has increased its storm preparations in advance of rainy conditions through Monday. The National Weather Service forecasts the rain that began Saturday to continue through Monday afternoon, with the rainfall through the weekend expected to be half an inch or less.
Scattered showers are expected early this week for San Diego County, with a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon into Monday morning for the coast, valleys and mountains. A winter weather advisory will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Monday, with chances of snowfall for county mountains, according to the National Weather Service.