New Year Turns a Cold Shoulder on San Diego

The winter storm that brought heavy rain and mountain snow to San Diego County Monday night and Tuesday morning is being replaced by cold, dry weather, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a frost advisory for tonight and Thursday night.

The lowest temperatures will be in the agricultural areas, including Valley Center, Pauma Valley and Escondido, with a low of 25 degrees, said Wilbur Shigehara of the National Weather Service.

Inland, night temperatures are expected to fall to the mid-30s. Coastal residents should expect lows ranging from 37 to 47.

Temperatures are expected to rise from 58 to 65 degrees during the day. Santa Ana winds will gust to 30 m.p.h. in the mountains, and 25 m.p.h. inland.

The Tuesday morning cold front triggered showers, thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail, leaving behind cold air and clear skies that are expected to continue through Friday.

From 3 to 5 inches of snow fell in the mountains. Schools closed in Julian, where 3 inches of snow fell. The California Highway Patrol advised travelers on the Sunrise Highway and California 79 to drive with chains.

Despite the wet weather, San Diego is still an inch below average rainfall for the season, with 2.23 inches. A total of 0.43 of an inch has fallen since Monday, Shigehara said. Rainfall is measured from July 1 to June 30 and includes the traditionally wet months from November to April.

“This was a million-dollar rainfall for San Diego. This is the heaviest rainfall since last March,” Shigehara said. “Overall, it was very beneficial because of the dry season last year. But, it could be damaging for some farmers.”

Avocado farmer Phil Henry welcomed the rain. “It was great. It saved us money because it’s free, and it’s better than the water we buy from the district because it doesn’t have minerals in it.”

Other farmers, such as Mike Hillebrecht of the Hillebrecht Co., were worried about the predicted frost. “One cold night could wipe out a whole year’s work,” he said.

He said his company was preparing by putting up wind machines to circulate air throughout the crops.

The storm originated north of Hawaii a week ago, continued to the Gulf of Alaska, and settled along the West Coast.

The county will open a shelter for the homeless in El Cajon because of the cold.

Slippery roads caused a number of minor traffic accidents Tuesday morning, said the CHP.