SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Tropical Storm Elida, churning in the Pacific Ocean off the western coast of Mexico and fueled by a strengthening El Niño, will be impacting the San Diego County coast toward the end of the weekend.
The National Weather Service (NWS) says San Diego won’t be getting heavy rain or wind from the storm system that is currently located several hundred miles off the southern tip of Baja California, but did warn that a High Surf Advisory has been issued for high surf and strong rip currents at San Diego beaches starting Sunday and lasting until Tuesday.
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Tropical Storm Elida had 65 mph winds and was moving at 12 mph Friday afternoon. The storm was expected to turn northwest Friday evening, then north-northwestward at a slightly faster forward speed by Sunday.
The National Hurricane Center on Friday said the storm has the potential to strengthen to a strong Tropical Storm. Weakening is expected to start over the weekend and continue into early next week.
While the storm will remain far from the Southern California coast, the NWS and the National Hurricane Center say it is expected to generate swells that could reach Baja California and Southern California. Those swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions…