A winter storm is approaching the state Sunday bringing rain, wind and snow to our mountains, the National Weather Service said.
The NWS has even issued a Winter Storm Warning for the mountains of San Diego County including Julian and Pine Valley from 1 p.m. Sunday through 10 a.m. Tuesday.
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Due to inclement weather, school district officials have closed all schools in the following districts on Monday and will have a late start on Tuesday:
Damage to trees and power lines is possible. If you must travel, plan to do so in difficult travel conditions, and keep a flashlight, blanket, food and water in your car in case of an emergency, the NWS said.
A Wind Advisory will also be in effect for desert areas from Monday afternoon through Monday morning.
Sunday morning will be cloudy with shower chances starting around 7am and lasting throughout the day, primarily along the coast and valleys. Those chances will spread across the region and into the mountains as the day progresses, NBC 7 meteorologist Brooke Martell said.
Snow, Rain, and Wind oh my! Sunday will be a transition day, Monday is the main day, then the storm leaves on Tuesday. The main impact will be heavy snow in the mountains. Be prepared for dangerous travel conditions. ⛓️❄️#CAwx pic.twitter.com/atY89UC92K
According to the National Weather Service, residents of Julian, with an elevation north of 4,000 feet or more, can expect rain (a 60% chance) with sleet after 5 pm Sunday. While it will often be breezy in the mountainous community, daytime gusts can reach up to 35 mph. That chance increases to 80% by Monday at 5 p.m., with snowfall totals expected to be less than half an inch, according to the NWS. The snow could continue into Tuesday, the NWS predicted.
And above? Palomar Mountain, which rises to 6,142 feet, is often the wettest, snowiest point in the state. The NWS is predicting 2-4 inches of snow Sunday night, with new accumulations Monday between 3-5 inches. The mercury will also drop, to 32 degrees on Sunday night and a low of 28 the following evening.
While there is no snow in the forecast for Palomar for the rest of the week, it will be cold, with temperatures not reaching 49 degrees until Thursday.
And how will the family be? Starting Saturday, a coastal ridge could produce a layer of sea during the morning hours around the county. Elsewhere, daytime highs will mostly be in the 60s along the coast and inland, with a few spots in the inland valleys in the 70s. Mountain communities will be in the 50s during the day.
The storm system will last through Tuesday afternoon, but the rain will end by Tuesday morning. The rest of the week will be dry.
