WEATHER UPDATE: SATURDAY 12-28-2019

 **Updated to further decrease rain and snow chances on Monday**

Latest computer data is starting to pull the next storm system farther off the coast. If this trend continues, it will dramatically alter our forecast for Monday and Tuesday. At this point, I'll keep rain showers in the forecast on Monday (20%). Tuesday is now looking completely dry.

Snow levels will still hover around 4,500 to 5,000 feet. With the moisture migrating farther east, the chances for snow accumulations are very slim.

I'll keep an eye on this storm and bring more updates if needed. It's a challenging forecast to say the least!

Most moisture is staying off the coast

NEXT RAIN CHANCE SAN DIEGO: UPDATED FRIDAY 12-27-2019

More rain is headed our way for next Monday into early Tuesday (12/30-12/31). A system will dive out of the Gulf of Alaska and glide along the West Coast into our area. You can spot the system in the satellite loop below.

The computer forecasts have been very consistent with this scenario. Showers and isolated downpours will overspread the area Monday morning and persist through most of the day. Showers will still be possible on Tuesday, however, they will be more spotty in nature. We should be dry by Tuesday afternoon. Rain totals could approach 1". I've included a projection below.

Snow levels will start at around 5,000 feet Monday morning, then drop to 4,000 feet by Monday afternoon. Local mountains will get another accumulating snow from this system, though it's still too early to give precise amounts.

As always, get the latest weather warnings from National Weather Service:

https://www.weather.gov/sgx/

And road conditions from Caltrans:

https://roads.dot.ca.gov/

Storm system spinning in the Gulf of Alaska is headed our way

Projected rain totals through next Tuesday

Projected snow totals through next Tuesday

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SNOWFALL REPORTS: THURSDAY 12-26-2019

The webcam on top of Mount Laguna shows a healthy amount of snow in our local mountains! Here are the snow reports from yesterday.

        STATION            SNOW(IN)  ELEVATION(FT)  LAST UPDATED

        TOP MT BALDY RD      28          7800       0100 PM THU
        WRIGHTWOOD           25          5900       0630 AM THU
        BIG BEAR RESORT   12-18     6000-7000       0700 PM THU
        CRESTLINE            18          4700       1109 AM THU
        CEDAR PINES PARK     18          5200       1106 AM THU
        LAKE ARROWHEAD NW    15          5600       1100 AM THU
        CRESTLINE (EAST)     14          5000       1108 AM THU
        LAKE ARROWHEAD       13          5300       1112 AM THU
        SKYFOREST            13          5900       1119 AM THU
        BALDWIN LAKE         12          6700       0643 PM THU
        PHELAN               12          3993       0630 AM THU
        RUNNING SPRINGS      12          6200       1114 AM THU
        IDYLLWILD            10-15       5380       0150 PM THU
        PALOMAR MTN          10          5400       0630 AM THU
        BIRCH HILL PALOMAR   10          5600       1130 AM THU
        MT SAN JACINTO-
        LONG VALLEY          10          8400       0930 AM THU
        BIG BEAR CITY         9          6600       0643 PM THU
        PIONEERTOWN           8          4070       1100 AM THU
        JULIAN                8          4215       0345 PM THU
        TWIN PEAKS            8          5200       0430 AM THU
        GREEN VALLEY LAKE     8          6873       0630 AM THU
        OAK HILLS             7          3799       0630 AM THU
        ARROWBEAR LAKE        6          6190       0630 AM THU
        CEDARPINES PARK       4          4700       0700 AM THU
        RANCHITA              4          4100       0645 AM THU
        BALDY MESA            3          3358       0630 AM THU
        VICTORVILLE           3          2726       0630 AM THU
        HESPERIA              2          3212       0400 PM THU
        PINE VALLEY           2          3900       0645 AM THU
        POTRERO               1          2600       0910 AM THU

WEATHER UPDATE: TUESDAY 12-24-2019

A stray shower is possible for this afternoon and evening. Then periods of light to moderate rainfall will be possible on-and-off tonight and through Christmas Day.

However, the heaviest rain is headed this way Wednesday night into early Thursday as the core of the storm system blasts through our area. Rain and isolated downpours will be possible during this time. We should easily receive an additional 1-2" of rainfall.

Snow levels will range from 4,000 to 5,000 feet through most of this event. Local mountains will get a healthy accumulation of snow. Current computer projections have Cuyamaca getting well over a foot of snow. Taller mountains to the north (San Jacinto and San Bernardino) will approach 3 feet of snow. I've included the rain and snow projections below.

Rain and snow will dissipate by Friday morning. Afterwards, I'm watching for another chance for rain headed this way  Monday 12/30.

NAM rain projections through Friday morning

NAM snow projections through Friday

RPM snow projections through Thursday afternoon

SAN DIEGO RAIN TOTALS: MONDAY 12-23-2019 TO THURSDAY 12-26-2019

I'm going to use this blog post to keep a running total of rainfall from Monday 12/23 to Thursday 12/26.

Here is the last update at 7 AM Friday.

Alpine (ANEC1)	2.12
Barona (BNAC1)	1.90
Barret Lake (BRTC1)	2.16
Barrett Junction (BAJC1)	2.36
Birch Hill (IRCC1)	1.01
Bonita (BNNC1)	2.42
Bonsall (BOSC1)	1.99
Brown Field (SDM)	2.93
Cactus County Park (CCPC1)	1.89
Cuyamaca Reservoir (CYDC1)	2.46
Deer Springs (DRGC1)	2.62
Descanso (DENC1)	2.38
Descanso RS (DSCC1)	2.00
Dulzura Summit (DULC1)	2.62
Echo Dell (ECDC1)	2.42
El Cajon (LCKC1)	1.92
El Camino Del Norte (ECMC1)	2.24
El Capitan Dam (ELPC1)	1.51
Encinitas (ENCC1)	2.71
Escondido (ESOC1)	3.33
Fashion Valley (FSNC1)	2.41
Flinn Springs (FLYC1)	1.88
Goose Valley (GOSC1)	1.98
Granite Hills (GRHC1)	1.78
Harbison Canyon (HARC1)	1.70
Henshaw Dam (HAWC1)	2.15
Julian (JLNC1)	1.55
Julian (JULC1)	1.82
Kearny Mesa (KEAC1)	2.67
La Jolla Amago (LJOC1)	2.04
La Mesa (LMSC1)	2.14
Lake Hodges (HODC1)	3.07
Las Flores (LSFC1)	2.77
Lindbergh Int'l Airport (SAN)	2.63
Marron Valley (MAVC1)	1.42
Mesa Grande (MEGC1)	2.09
Miramar Lake (MMRC1)	2.75
Mission Valley (BVDC1)	2.54
Montgomery Field (MYF)	2.38
Mt Woodson Rd - Ramona (RMAC1)	2.43
Oceanside (OCNC1)	2.78
Oceanside (OKB)	2.27
Palomar Airport (CRQ)	2.33
Palomar Airport (PLMC1)	2.18
Palomar Mountain CRS (PMMC1)	1.19
Pine Hills (PIHC1)	2.15
Pine Hills Fire Station (PHIC1)	2.48
Point Loma (L13)	2.57
Potrero (PRCC1)	2.19
Poway (PWYC1)	2.71
Ramona (RMNC1)	2.23
Ramona (RNM)	2.27
Rancho Bernardo (RNBC1)	2.68
Rincon Springs (RINC1)	0.59
Roads Division 1 HQ (RDHC1)	2.18
San Diego Estates (ESTC1)	1.57
San Marcos Cnty Rd Stn (SMXC1)	2.59
San Marcos Landfill (NMLC1)	2.44
San Miguel (MIGC1)	1.96
San Pasqual (PSQC1)	2.53
Santa Ysabel (SYSC1)	1.94
Santee - Mast Rd (STEC1)	2.56
Skyline Ranch (SKLC1)	2.41
Sutherland Dam (SUDC1)	1.87
Valley Center (VALC1)	2.36
Volcano Mountain (VCNC1)	1.51
Warner Springs (WSGC1)	1.80
Wire Mountain (WIRC1)	2.38
Witch Creek Fire Stn (WCHC1)	2.06
Wohlford Dam (WHLC1)	2.14

NEXT RAIN CHANCE SAN DIEGO: UPDATED TUESDAY 12-17-2019

It's looking like the weather pattern will become active for the final two weeks of the year. I've been watching this over the past few days and the computer forecasts have been fairly consistent with this scenario.

A small storm system will bring rain to Northern California tomorrow. Unfortunately, this system won't bring any rain into our area. I'm keeping a closer eye in the Gulf of Alaska, where the upper atmosphere is becoming energized. Eventually a series of systems will dive out of this region and bring us our next chance for rain.

Showers should develop Sunday night (12/22) and persist on-and-off through Monday (12/23). Isolated showers could linger into Tuesday (12/24) as well. This system doesn't look cold, so snow levels will be moderately high.

The second wave of energy moves in late Christmas Day. Right now it looks like the heaviest rain will move in Wednesday night (12/25) and into Thursday (12/26). This will be a colder system, so some local mountains could get some snow.

Obviously this is still far away, so there could be some changes to the timing of the rainfall.  I'll have more updates in the coming days. This pattern could persist into New Year's.

SAN DIEGO RAIN TOTALS: SATURDAY 12-7-2019 TO SUNDAY 12-8-2019

Alpine (ANEC1)	0.86
Barona (BNAC1)	0.48
Barret Lake (BRTC1)	0.48
Barrett Junction (BAJC1)	0.67
Birch Hill (IRCC1)	2.22
Bonita (BNNC1)	0.55
Bonsall (BOSC1)	0.49
Brown Field (SDM)	0.37
Cactus County Park (CCPC1)	0.33
Camp Pendleton (NFG)	0.28
Cuyamaca Reservoir (CYDC1)	2.09
Deer Springs (DRGC1)	0.24
Descanso (DENC1)	1.19
Descanso RS (DSCC1)	1.29
Dulzura Summit (DULC1)	0.60
Echo Dell (ECDC1)	1.07
El Cajon (LCKC1)	0.68
El Camino Del Norte (ECMC1)	0.18
El Capitan Dam (ELPC1)	0.56
Encinitas (ENCC1)	0.20
Escondido (ESOC1)	0.30
Fashion Valley (FSNC1)	0.22
Flinn Springs (FLYC1)	0.50
Goose Valley (GOSC1)	0.24
Granite Hills (GRHC1)	0.61
Harbison Canyon (HARC1)	0.53
Henshaw Dam (HAWC1)	0.67
Julian (JLNC1)	1.20
Julian (JULC1)	1.16
Kearny Mesa (KEAC1)	0.17
La Jolla Amago (LJOC1)	0.66
La Mesa (LMSC1)	0.29
Lake Hodges (HODC1)	0.12
Las Flores (LSFC1)	0.00
Lindbergh Int'l Airport (SAN)	0.22
Marron Valley (MAVC1)	0.08
MCOLF - Red Beach (NXF)	0.20
Mesa Grande (MEGC1)	0.67
Mission Valley (BVDC1)	0.35
Montgomery Field (MYF)	0.20
Mt Woodson Rd - Ramona (RMAC1)	0.39
Oceanside (OCNC1)	0.27
Oceanside (OKB)	0.30
Otay Mountain (OTYC1)	0.72
Palomar Airport (CRQ)	0.52
Palomar Airport (PLMC1)	0.47
Palomar Mountain CRS (PMMC1)	2.07
Pine Hills (PIHC1)	1.59
Pine Hills Fire Station (PHIC1)	1.79
Point Loma (L13)	0.27
Potrero (PRCC1)	0.34
Potrero CDF (POTC1)	0.31
Poway (PWYC1)	0.39
Ramona (RMNC1)	0.38
Ramona (RNM)	0.41
Rancho Bernardo (RNBC1)	0.30
Red Gate Repeater (RGPC1)	0.39
Rincon Springs (RINC1)	0.27
Roads Division 1 HQ (RDHC1)	0.44
San Diego Estates (ESTC1)	0.75
San Marcos Cnty Rd Stn (SMXC1)	0.23
San Marcos Landfill (NMLC1)	0.19
San Miguel (MIGC1)	0.43
San Pasqual (PSQC1)	0.16
Santa Ysabel (SYSC1)	0.83
Santee - Mast Rd (STEC1)	0.29
Skyline Ranch (SKLC1)	0.48
Sutherland Dam (SUDC1)	0.46
Vallecitos Repeater (VCIC1)	0.79
Valley Center (VALC1)	0.34
Valley Center (VLCC1)	0.21
Volcano Mountain (VCNC1)	1.58
Warner Springs (WSGC1)	0.48
Wire Mountain (WIRC1)	0.23
Witch Creek Fire Stn (WCHC1)	0.67
Wohlford Dam (WHLC1)	0.42

NEXT RAIN CHANCE SAN DIEGO: UPDATED THURSDAY 12-5-2019

The forecast is still on track with this next storm system. You can see it spinning off the coast of Northern California on the first map below.

A few sprinkles could develop on Friday, but a better chance for rain will arrive on Saturday as the core of the system approaches. Intermittent showers will be possible through the day on Saturday. A quick downpour could also develop.

The chance for sporadic showers will persist through Sunday.  Rain totals will range from 0.25 to 0.5".

Snow levels will be around 10,000 feet for most of the weekend.

Afterwards, the weather pattern looks dry for most of next workweek with warming temperatures.

SAN DIEGO RAIN TOTALS: WEDNESDAY 12-4-2019

Here are the totals from Tuesday night and through the day on Wednesday.

Alpine (ANEC1)	2.01
Barona (BNAC1)	1.59
Barret Lake (BRTC1)	1.62
Barrett Junction (BAJC1)	1.93
Birch Hill (IRCC1)	3.39
Bonita (BNNC1)	1.26
Bonsall (BOSC1)	1.23
Brown Field (SDM)	1.65
Cactus County Park (CCPC1)	1.56
Cuyamaca Reservoir (CYDC1)	3.35
Deer Springs (DRGC1)	1.42
Descanso (DENC1)	2.45
Descanso RS (DSCC1)	2.44
Dulzura Summit (DULC1)	1.79
Echo Dell (ECDC1)	2.11
El Cajon (LCKC1)	1.65
El Camino Del Norte (ECMC1)	0.88
El Capitan Dam (ELPC1)	1.80
Encinitas (ENCC1)	0.88
Escondido (ESOC1)	1.55
Fashion Valley (FSNC1)	1.17
Flinn Springs (FLYC1)	1.78
Goose Valley (GOSC1)	1.60
Granite Hills (GRHC1)	1.67
Harbison Canyon (HARC1)	1.89
Henshaw Dam (HAWC1)	2.12
Julian (JLNC1)	2.15
Julian (JULC1)	2.11
Kearny Mesa (KEAC1)	0.81
La Jolla Amago (LJOC1)	1.94
La Mesa (LMSC1)	1.33
Lake Hodges (HODC1)	1.39
Las Flores (LSFC1)	0.00
Lindbergh Int'l Airport (SAN)	1.20
Mesa Grande (MEGC1)	2.09
Miramar Lake (MMRC1)	1.05
Mission Valley (BVDC1)	1.20
Montgomery Field (MYF)	0.76
Mt Woodson Rd - Ramona (RMAC1)	1.43
Oceanside (OCNC1)	1.21
Oceanside (OKB)	1.06
Palomar Airport (CRQ)	1.17
Palomar Airport (PLMC1)	1.13
Palomar Mountain CRS (PMMC1)	3.13
Pine Hills (PIHC1)	2.71
Pine Hills Fire Station (PHIC1)	3.06
Point Loma (L13)	1.15
Potrero (PRCC1)	2.63
Poway (PWYC1)	1.05
Ramona (RMNC1)	1.50
Ramona (RNM)	1.19
Rancho Bernardo (RNBC1)	1.12
Red Gate Repeater (RGPC1)	1.74
Rincon Springs (RINC1)	1.59
Roads Division 1 HQ (RDHC1)	1.37
San Diego Estates (ESTC1)	1.77
San Marcos Cnty Rd Stn (SMXC1)	1.19
San Marcos Landfill (NMLC1)	1.09
San Miguel (MIGC1)	1.46
San Pasqual (PSQC1)	1.18
Santa Ysabel (SYSC1)	2.21
Skyline Ranch (SKLC1)	1.63
Solana Beach (SOB)	0.00
Sutherland Dam (SUDC1)	1.92
Vallecitos Repeater (VCIC1)	1.84
Valley Center (VALC1)	1.45
Volcano Mountain (VCNC1)	2.28
Warner Springs (WSGC1)	1.51
Wire Mountain (WIRC1)	1.16
Witch Creek Fire Stn (WCHC1)	2.06
Wohlford Dam (WHLC1)	1.60