A Pacific storm that’s drawing moisture from the subtropics will spread clouds over San Diego County on Sunday and then drop from 0.25 inches to 1 inch of rain across the region starting late Monday, the National Weather Service said.
The heaviest precipitation will fall in North County, which is recovering from storms that recently dropped 4 to 8 inches of rain in some communities.
Travelers can expect far worse conditions if they head for Orange County, which will receive up to 1.5 inches of rain, or the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, which will get up to 4 inches. The storm could slow access to the mountain’s ski resorts, which are covered with heavy snow.
A significant ocean swell will arrive ahead of the storm, producing 3-to-5-foot waves, with possible sets to 7 feet, at many San Diego County beaches.
UC San Diego scientists are continuing to evaluate whether rain-saturated coastal bluffs are close to collapse. Large cracks have developed in the bluffs immediately south of the Torrey Pines Gliderport, and soil has been slipping along the switchback trail at Beacon’s, a surf break in Encinitas.
Sea surface temperatures are in the 58-to-60-degree range, unchanged from a week ago.
