San Diego weather will turn volatile as the National Weather Service warned a Pacific storm could produce winds gusting up to 45 mph on Monday, potentially affecting flight operations at San Diego International Airport.
The service said the system is expected to move ashore in early afternoon, with south winds blowing across the airport's sole east to west runway and raising crosswind concerns for arrivals and departures.
Rain will begin as the system moves ashore and could be heavy at times, and thunderstorms are possible, the National Weather Service said.
Forecasters said the wild winds will spread countywide, with projected gusts up to 49 mph at Mount Laguna, 47 mph at Borrego Springs, 40 mph at Campo, 36 mph at Alpine and Mira Mesa, and 35 mph at Oceanside.
The weather service forecast the storm will arrive in two waves, with a first jolt lasting through Monday night and a second pulse from late Tuesday night into Wednesday, and sporadic rain may fall on Thursday.
The National Weather Service projected Monday through Wednesday rainfall totals of 1 to 1.5 inches in San Diego and 1.5 inches in Oceanside, with additional inland totals reported.
Forecast totals include 1.5 inches in El Cajon and 1.5 to 2 inches in Escondido, the service said, while higher totals are expected at mountain sites.
Flood Risks Snow And Coastal Conditions
The National Weather Service said the San Diego River in Mission Valley could rise from about 2.7 feet early Monday to about 7.8 feet by 11 a.m. Tuesday, and that increase could cause minor flooding near the Fashion Valley shopping center.
Forecasters projected higher mountain rainfall and snowfall, with 2 to 2.5 inches at Mount Laguna, 2.5 to 3 inches at Julian, and 3 to 4 inches at Palomar Mountain.
The service said snow could fall as well, with four to six inches possible on Mount Laguna and two to four inches at Palomar Mountain, and areas along Interstate 8 east of Alpine could see a light dusting Wednesday into Thursday.
Coastal conditions will worsen as wave heights rise, the National Weather Service said, warning some beaches could see eight to twelve foot surf and that beach erosion is possible as the storm moves through.
