595
FXUS66 KSGX 240909
AFDSGX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
209 AM PDT Fri Apr 24 2026

.SYNOPSIS...
Cooler and breezy weather will occur this weekend as a weak
weather system moves over the area. This system will bring gusty
winds across the mountains and deserts along with the chance for
some light precipitation along and west of the mountains as well.
Next week will remain cooler with highs near to slightly below
average and mainly dry weather.

&&

.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...

Today through tomorrow night...

An approaching low pressure system is going to allow for onshore
flow to increase by later on today, and there will be increasing
winds, especially across the higher terrain and for wind-proned
areas. These winds will further increase by tomorrow as the trough
nears the region. There will also be a chance of showers for
tomorrow, mainly for the coastal-facing slopes of the inland
foothills, as west winds become further enhanced. This will also
result in winds increasing enough to warrant a Wind Advisory across
the high deserts and within San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, where
winds by late tomorrow afternoon may possibly gust up to 65 mph in
some of the localized areas near the desert slopes on the north-
facing side of the San Bernardino Mountains. There could be some
blowing dust possible. Generally, winds across the higher elevations
will gust around 40 to 55 mph. The best chance of rain will be
tomorrow evening though early Sunday morning, with possibly up to
three quarters of an inch in vicinity of Palomar Mountain. There may
also be some areas around the coastal areas of San Diego County
receiving close to a half an inch of rainfall near Oceanside.
Otherwise, most locations west of the mountains will likely
receive total precipitation amounts of around 0.10-0.25 inches.
Temperatures will also be on a cooling trend with this system
moving through, with temperatures below the seasonal average by 5
to 10 degrees for highs on Saturday.

The rest of this weekend through the middle of next week...

For Sunday, showers will continue to taper off during the morning,
and winds will also weaken throughout the day as the low pressure
system exits the region. Sunday will be even a degree or two for
most locations, and snow levels will fall to around 5000 feet by
Sunday morning, with possibly a few inches of snow for locations
above 6500 feet. Overall troughing will remain in place over the
Great Basin, with a cut-off low being located well to the southwest
over the Pacific Ocean. There is more divergence in the models from
this period in the forecast and onward in terms of what happens with
this cut-off low, as some of the deterministic models have this
feature moving back in over the region towards the middle of next
week, which may give us another chance of rain and reinforce us with
cooler temperatures. Ensembles also reflect a somewhat cooler and
more unsettled pattern remaining in place through then, with
temperatures for the most part remaining below average.

&&

.AVIATION...
240845Z...Coast/Valleys...Areas of low clouds to gradually develop
this morning, with SCT to locally BKN cigs around 1500-2500 feet MSL
most likely 12-17Z. Low clouds based 2000-3000 feet MSL to return
after 02Z with more uniform coverage and inland extent, eventually
filling most of the coastal basin by 12Z Saturday.

Mountains/Deserts...Westerly winds strengthen after 23Z with
widespread gusts 25-35 kts, locally to 45 kts along desert slopes
and through mountain passes. Moderate up/downdrafts expected in lee
of mtns.

Otherwise...SCT high clouds today becoming BKN tonight.

&&

.MARINE...
No hazardous marine conditions are expected through Tuesday, though
brisk westerly winds 15 to 20 kts are expected each afternoon and
evening through Sunday.

&&

.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are
encouraged to report significant weather conditions.


&&

.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Wind Advisory from 2 PM Saturday to 11 AM PDT Sunday for Apple
     and Lucerne Valleys-San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.

PZ...None.

&&

$$

PUBLIC...Stewey
AVIATION/MARINE...MM

NWS San Diego (SGX) Office