A Pacific storm that was expected to drench San Diego County late Friday and early Saturday is turning away from the region and won’t deliver rain that’s needed to help reduce the risk of wildfires ahead of Santa Ana winds next week, the National Weather Service said.
Forecasters originally thought the system would drop about 0.70 inches of rain west of Interstate 15 and as much as an inch in the valleys, foothills and mountains to the east.
But the storm apparently will not slump deep into Southern California. The weather service now believes that the storm will drop only 0.15 inches of rain west of I-15 and about 0.25 inches across inland valleys and foothills.
Weak to moderate Santa Ana winds are forecast to blow on and off Monday through Wednesday. Thanksgiving Day will be mostly clear, with temperatures rising to close to 70 in San Diego.
Fortunately, the storm that blew into the county on Wednesday over-performed in many areas. Forecasters had thought the system would drop 0.30 to 0.40 inches of precipitation west of I-15, and more to the east. But some spots at and near the coast got a heavier soaking.
Here’s a sample of Wednesday’s rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.
Oceanside: 1.26 inches
Bonsall: 1.23 inches
Carlsbad: 1.19 inches
Palomar Mountain: 1.13 inches
Vista: 1.08 iches
Fallbrook: 1.06 inches
San Onofre: 1.06 inches
Rainbow: 0.82 inches
Encinitas: 0.74 inches
San Marcos: 0.62 inches
Escondido: 0.59 inches
Warner Springs: 0.57 inches
Ramona: 0.57 inches
Mount Laguna: 0.58 inches
Julian: 0.54 inches
Valley Center: 0.52 inches
Brown Field: 0.37 inches
Chula Vista: 0.36 inches
Miramar: 0.33 inches
National City: 0.21 inches
San Diego International Airport: 0.15 inches
