SAN DIEGO RAIN TOTALS: THURSDAY 12-23-2021 TO FRIDAY 12-24-2021

 The heaviest rain has exited the area, though patchy light showers will persist. 

Agua Caliente (AGUC1)	0.52
Barona (BNAC1)	1.60
Barret Lake (BRTC1)	1.69
Barrett Junction (BAJC1)	1.70
Birch Hill (IRCC1)	2.88
Bonita (BNNC1)	1.14
Bonsall (BOSC1)	1.78
Borrego Palm Canyon (BRPC1)	0.73
Borrego Springs (BGOC1)	0.35
Brown Field (SDM)	0.86
Cactus County Park (CCPC1)	1.15
Cameron Guard Station (CMNC1)	2.14
Camp Elliot (MPEC1)	0.93
Campo (CMFC1)	1.79
CMP Target Range (CTGC1)	1.62
Core Grade Road (OLEC1)	1.57
Couser Canyon (OUSC1)	1.81
Coyote Cyn Creek (CCYC1)	0.45
Cuyamaca Reservoir (CYDC1)	3.02
Deer Springs (DRGC1)	1.72
Descanso (DENC1)	2.32
Descanso RS (DSCC1)	2.72
Dulzura Summit (DULC1)	1.25
Eastern Tanks (ETKC1)	2.13
Echo Dell (ECDC1)	2.35
El Cajon (LCKC1)	1.11
El Camino Del Norte (ECMC1)	0.75
El Capitan Dam (ELPC1)	1.46
Encinitas (ENCC1)	0.99
Escondido (ESOC1)	1.50
Fallbrook (FBZC1)	2.43
Fallbrook (FLBC1)	1.94
Fallbrook Community AP (L18)	1.72
Fashion Valley (FSNC1)	0.89
Flinn Springs (FLYC1)	1.37
Goat Canyon (GOCC1)	0.75
Goose Valley (GOSC1)	1.42
Granite Hills (GRHC1)	1.36
Harbison Canyon (HARC1)	1.82
Henshaw Dam (HAWC1)	2.83
Japatul Fire Station (JFSC1)	1.96
Julian (JLNC1)	2.61
Julian (JULC1)	2.71
Kearny Mesa (KEAC1)	0.89
La Jolla Amago (LJOC1)	2.41
La Mesa (LMSC1)	1.36
Lake Hodges (HODC1)	1.23
Lake Murray (MUYC1)	0.94
Las Flores (LSFC1)	1.57
Lindbergh Int'l Airport (SAN)	0.82
Loma Tova (LMTB1)	0.12
Lower Oat Flats (OFLC1)	2.57
Marron Valley (MAVC1)	0.91
MCOLF - Red Beach (NXF)	1.40
Mesa Grande (MEGC1)	2.61
Miramar Lake (MMRC1)	1.02
Mission Valley (BVDC1)	0.78
Missle (MSXC1)	0.96
Montgomery Field (MYF)	0.73
Mount Laguna (LGMC1)	2.78
Mount Laguna (MLGC1)	3.01
Mt Woodson Rd - Ramona (RMAC1)	1.96
Oceanside (OCNC1)	1.61
Oceanside (OKB)	1.25
Ocotillo Wells State Park (OCWC1)	0.16
Otay Mountain (OTYC1)	1.94
Pala 2W (PZAC1)	1.76
Palomar Airport (CRQ)	1.19
Palomar Airport (PLMC1)	1.27
Palomar Mountain (PRMC1)	5.95
Palomar Mountain CRS (PMMC1)	3.93
Palomar Mountain USFS (PAMC1)	5.53
Pine Hills (PIHC1)	2.52
Pine Hills Fire Station (PHIC1)	2.70
Pine Valley County Park (PNVC1)	2.51
Point Loma (L13)	0.98
Potrero (PRCC1)	1.92
Potrero CDF (POTC1)	1.64
Poway (PWYC1)	1.06
Rainbow Camp (RAIC1)	2.21
Rainbow County Park (RABC1)	1.97
Ramona (RMNC1)	1.68
Ranchita (RTAC1)	1.81
Ranchita CDF (RCHC1)	1.28
Ranchita Margarita (RMGC1)	1.93
Rancho Bernardo (RNBC1)	1.14
Red Gate Repeater (RGPC1)	1.73
Rincon Springs (RINC1)	1.79
Roads Division 1 HQ (RDHC1)	1.02
San Diego Estates (ESTC1)	1.30
San Felipe Valley (SFVC1)	1.15
San Marcos Cnty Rd Station (SMXC1)	1.46
San Marcos Landfill (NMLC1)	1.07
San Miguel (MIGC1)	0.33
San Pasqual (PSQC1)	1.42
San Ysidro (YSDC1)	0.91
Santa Ysabel (SYSC1)	2.61
Skyline Ranch (SKLC1)	2.62
Smugglers Gulch (UGGC1)	0.82
Sutherland Dam (SUDC1)	1.97
Tierra Del Sol (TRRC1)	1.53
Tijuana Estuary (TJEC1)	0.87
Tijuana R - Int'l Boundary (TIJC1)	0.62
Valley Center (VALC1)	1.77
Valley Center (VLCC1)	1.66
Volcano Mountain (VCNC1)	2.87
Warner Springs (WSGC1)	1.76
Wire Mountain (WIRC1)	1.29
Witch Creek Fire Station (WCHC1)	2.25
Wohlford Dam (WHLC1)	1.59

 

WEATHER UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 12-22-2021

The next storm system is on our doorstep. It will bring isolated showers and drizzle tonight, then rain will overspread the area tomorrow afternoon and evening. 

There is a moderate atmospheric river associated with this storm (first map), which will help transport moisture into our area. This should enhance the rain potential. The heaviest rain will move through the area Thursday night. Showers will then taper by early Friday afternoon.

I've included computer projections for rainfall below (second map). Coastal and inland areas will see 1-2" while the mountains will see 2-3".

Snow levels range from 9,000-10,000 feet tomorrow night into Friday morning. They will then drop to 6,000 to 7,000 feet Friday, so most local mountains won't see any snow. However, the highest peaks in San Bernardino and especially into the Sierra Nevada will see significant snowfall. I've included computer projected snow totals below (map 3).

The weather pattern will remain active with occasional showers and patchy drizzle popping up for the next several days, though it shouldn't amount to much. I'm still keeping a close eye on another bigger system that could arrive 12/28 to 12/30. This could bring more substantial rainfall and much cooler air (lower snow levels) to the area.

Moderate atmospheric river transports moisture from the south.

Computer projected rainfall through 7 PM Friday

Computer projected snowfall through 7 PM Friday

NEXT RAIN CHANCE SAN DIEGO: UPDATED MONDAY EVENING 12-20-2021

The weather pattern will remain fairly active over the next several days, bringing occasional showers to our area into the New Year.

The computer forecasts are having a difficult time with the weather pattern. Every day they are painting a new picture.

The initial challenge is the track of an isolated storm system which is currently spinning several hundred miles off the North California coast. You can see it spinning in the satellite loop below.

Waves of energy in the upper atmosphere will glide southward out of Alaska and push this system our way and then bring more rain chances later this month. You can see the first wave forming in Alaska in the loop below.

Given the inconsistency of the data, I'm hesitant to give too many specifics for the long range forecast. With that said, I'd target the following times for rainfall:

• Thursday 12/23 into early Friday 12/24
• Saturday 12/25 (Christmas)
• Wednesday 12/29

I'll bring another update when the data looks more reliable.

In the meantime, I've included computer projections for rainfall and snowfall for the next 10 days. Take these with a grain of salt. At the very least these maps show some much needed rain and snow is headed to California in the coming days.

Pacific satellite loop - click to enlarge

Computer projection (ECMWF) for 10 day rainfall

Computer projection (ECMWF) for 10 day snowfall