REGION — A powerful atmospheric river storm will move into Southern California late Tuesday night, beginning multiple days of sometimes-heavy rain that has forecasters warning of possible flooding across San Diego County and other areas.
“Rain will become heavy at times late tonight with heavy rainfall from a strengthening atmospheric river spreading southward across the area for late (Tuesday) into Wednesday morning with the heavy rain continuing into Wednesday evening,” according to the National Weather Service. “Showers will continue on Thursday with another round of more widespread showers for Thursday night into Friday.”
The NWS issued a flood watch that will be in effect for San Diego County coastal areas, valleys, mountains and deserts through late Wednesday night.
Forecasters warned that the heaviest rain is anticipated Wednesday morning through Wednesday evening, with rain falling at rates between a half inch to an inch per hour, with some locally heavier downpours possible.
Rain falling at such high rates could lead to excessive runoff, resulting in “flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” forecasters said.
The pouring rain will likely be accompanied by gusty conditions, with wind gusts of up to 40 mph possible in San Diego County coastal areas and valleys. A wind advisory will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Snow levels are expected to remain above 8,000 feet Wednesday morning, “increasing the potential for rock and mudslides along mountain highways, and debris flows in and below burn scars, especially in the San Bernardino County mountains.”
The snow level could fall to about 7,000 feet by Thursday night, then down to 6,000 feet by late Friday.
Conditions should dry out by the weekend.
