The National Weather Service San Diego (NWS San Diego) forecasts blustery southwestern to westerly winds for parts of California, with gusts ranging from 45 to 55 mph and isolated gusts up to 65 mph in mountainous and desert regions this afternoon through tonight. Similarly, they’ve issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Riverside and San Bernardino County Mountains, where significant snowfall is expected from this afternoon until Monday afternoon, as stated by NWS San Diego.
Southern California residents should brace for a pervasive cold front as a low-pressure system from the north is set to imbue the area with cooler temperatures, gusty winds, intermittent showers coupled with mountain snow through Tuesday, as NWS San Diego details in their latest forecast discussion. The Region will be exposed to an onslaught of wintery conditions, with snow levels possibly dropping to as low as 3,300 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains and forecasted snow accumulations ranging from 12-18 inches above 6,000 feet. Meanwhile, the snow level is projected to rise to around 4500 feet tonight and wrap around 5000 feet on Sunday before backpedaling to around 4000 to 4500 feet for Sunday night and Monday, making travel and outdoor activities potentially treacherous in these areas.
Maritime operations are not exempt from the sweeping weather changes, with the NWS advisory indicating that “Southerly winds will strengthen this morning and continue at times through tonight, with gusts 20-25 knots in the inner coastal waters, strongest near the San Diego Bay entrance.” Boaters and marine enthusiasts need to heed the Small Craft Advisory in effect from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST Sunday for coastal waters from San Mateo Point southward to the Mexican Border as rain showers are anticipated to commence this afternoon and bolster into the evening, with continuance expected through around Tuesday…