More Snow, Rain Expected Monday Morning

The tail-end of the last storm of the winter season moved eastward across San Diego County early Monday, dropping more rainfall and snow.

Before the storm clears out completely later in the day, it could drop an additional quarter-inch of rain in coastal and valley areas, and up to four inches of additional snow in the mountains, where the snow level was near 3,000 feet Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. for the mountains. In the deserts, a wind advisory is scheduled until 10 a.m. And along the coast, where 7- to 10-foot waves are reported, a high surf advisory will be in effect until 10 a.m.

In the mountains, the first two days of the storm brought 10 inches of snow on Palomar Mountain, 12 inches in Julian and 14 inches on Mt. Laguna, the NWS reported. Crews were plowing in Julian Monday morning. Chains were required on Palomar Mountain and Mt. Laguna. Snow gates were closed at the north end of Sunrise Highway on Mt. Laguna due to drifting snow. Interstate 8 was closed 6 miles east of Alpine to Ocotillo Wells. Snow was reported in Borrego, on S2 and at the top of the hill in Ranchita. Crews were plowing. Chains were required on Montezuma Grade.

A small craft advisory for hazardous seas is scheduled to expire at 11 a.m., but a small craft advisory for winds will then take effect, lasting through this evening.

The NWS reported that as of 8:45 p.m. Sunday, the storm—which first struck Saturday morning—dropped a total of 1.13 inches of rain in Vista, 0.5 inches at Lindbergh Field, 0.73 inches in National City, 1.5 inches in Rancho San Diego, 2.85 inches in Alpine, 2.24 inches in Potrero, 1.93 inches at Mt. Woodson, 1.72 inches in Escondido and 1.89 inches in Valley Center.

A frost advisory is scheduled in the valleys from late Monday night until early Tuesday. During the advisory period, temperatures in the valleys will fall to near freezing, the Weather Service reported.

-City News Service