The first Pacific storm of the winter will blow ashore in Southern California late Monday and is expected to drop about an inch of rain in San Diego and nearly twice as much in the local mountains, with a dusting of snow possible above the 5,000-foot level.

Forecasters say the storm system will arrive Monday night with light showers and increasing winds, with heavier rain, strong winds and snow expected Tuesday.

“The heaviest rain will come during Tuesday’s morning commute,” said Phil Gonslaves, a forecaster at the National Weather Service. “There also could be thunderstorms and strong winds. There could be a few hairy moments.”

This will be the first significant winter storm of the season in Southern California. San Diego has recorded only 0.09 of an inch of rain since Oct. 1; normal through Sunday is 3.51 inches. The start to the rainy season is the driest on record in town.


Forecasters are warning the precipitation could cause debris flows in areas recently burned in wildfires, especially in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties where more than 280,000 acres were charred by the Thomas fire in December and January. Officials say debris flows also are possible in Orange and Riverside counties and in the Lilac fire area, although less impact is expected here because of comparatively flat terrain.

The storm will be on the warm side, with daytime highs in the low 60s along the coast. But the system will dart off to the east, and temperatures will drop sharply on Tuesday night, especially inland.

Gonsalves says San Diego will then experience a dry period that could last through much of January, which is normally one of the wettest months in Southern California.

In anticipation of the storm, San Diego County’s Department of Public Works, local cities and fire agencies were making sand and sandbags available to residents for free. For information on where sandbags are available, visit www.readysandiego.org/flooding/


The NWS issued the following rainfall projections for San Diego County: Julian, 2.05”; Alpine, 1.91’’; Mt. Laguna, 1.53”; Ramona, 1.47”; Escondido, 1.41”; Miramar, 1.17”; San Diego International Airport, 0.91”; Borrego Springs, 0.38”.


Twitter: @grobbins

gary.robbins@sduniontribune.com