A fast-moving storm system drenched the county with rain and gave the mountains a dusting of snow Wednesday, a precursor for another system that's expected to bring chilly temperatures this weekend.
The storm system began to dump on the region before 8 a.m., with rain touching the North County coast first, affecting drivers during the morning commute. Rainfall at a rate of a whopping tenth-of-an-inch per hour was possible in most communities, according to NBC 7 chief meteorologist Sheena Parveen.
The bulk of the rain moved east across the county, past the mountains by around noon. Spotty showers stretched into the late afternoon for some neighborhoods, but the majority of the system had moved out of the region by 4 p.m., NBC 7 Meteorologist Greg Bledsoe said.
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About .2 to .7 inches had fallen throughout the county as of 8:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Coast
- Brown Field: .35 inches
- Chula Vista: .28 inches
- North Island: .27 inches
Valleys
- Harbison Canyon: .71 inches
- Poway: .57 inches
- Flinn Springs: .55
Mountains
- Palomar: 1.13 inches
- Pine Hills: 1.04 inches
- Lake Cuyamaca: 1 inch
Local
The storm also brought a dusting of snow to the mountain communities at or above 5,500 feet. Mount Laguna and Palomar Mountain received at least an inch of snow, according to the NWS.
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While it didn't snow at lower mountain elevations, there was significant wind. A wind advisory will be in place for the San Diego County Mountains from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. That means sustained winds up to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph should be expected.
Although the storm has passed, San Diegans should still expect chilly temperatures overnight. Even coastal areas could see temperatures as low as the mid-40s. Inland Valleys will be in the mid- to high-30s and the mountains will be near freezing.
A high surf advisory is also in store for our coast from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 10 p.m. Thursday, according to the NWS. The surf won't be as strong as it was to ring in the new year, but some beaches could see wave sets up to 10 feet Wednesday night into Thursday, according to Bledsoe. Parveen said rip currents during this time will be dangerous.
After a sunny but cool Thursday and Friday, there's a chance for late showers on Saturday and more rain on Sunday. The timing of the second storm isn't quite clear at this point, but cooler temperatures could mean chances for snow at lower elevations.
