The sixth wave of rain in the past week will drench parts of San Diego County on Wednesday and will be followed Thursday by winds powerful enough to make driving difficult on Interstate 8 east of Alpine and cause widespread power outages, the National Weather Service says.
The new system is emblematic of a rainy season that has turned out to be far wetter than expected. Since the season began on Oct. 1, San Diego International Airport has recorded 7.80 inches of precipitation, which is 4.49 inches above average. Just over 3 inches have fallen since New Year’s Day.
Many forecasters expected drier conditions because the West Coast has been experiencing a weak La Niña.
Forecasters say a weather system off Baja California will funnel rain into the region starting Wednesday morning. Most of the moisture is expected to fall between the border and San Diego and as far east as Mount Laguna. Some areas will get about a quarter-inch of rain, and embedded cells could push totals higher.
Thursday will bring meteorological whiplash.
Cold, onshore winds will begin blowing by mid-morning and will hit 50 mph to 60 mph along eastern Interstate 8, with possibly higher gusts. A high wind watch will be in effect for the San Diego mountains until late Thursday afternoon, when the winds will change direction, arriving from the opposite direction. That’s when the Santa Anas kick in.
The winds “could blow down trees and power lines,” the weather service says. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles.
The Santa Anas usually produce warmer temperatures. But not this time around. Forecasters say the pre-dawn temperatures on Friday will mostly be in the 30s east of Interstate 15. The western half of the county also will be cold, especially Oceanside, which will dip to 39, and Mira Mesa, which will fall to 42.