Dangerous Surf In Encinitas, Rainfall Totals As Storm Pushes Inland

ENCINITAS, CA —A High Surf Advisory was in effect for Carlsbad, Encinitas and all San Diego coastal beaches through 9 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Large breaking waves of up to 8 feet and occasional sets of up to 12 feet were expected, adding to the dangerous swimming and surfing conditions along with localized beach erosion.

"Inexperienced swimmers and surfers should remain out of the water due to the dangerous surf conditions," NWS meteorologist Alexander Tardy said.

A 110-foot eucalyptus tree was downed in Balboa Park Tuesday after gusty winds blasted the super-saturated soil. Wednesday's rain would deteriorate into periods of rain and mountain snow promised to linger through Thursday morning, followed by cool, dry and breezy conditions through next weekend, according to the weather service.

San Diego's first day of spring was muddled by widespread rain, whipping winds and some mountain snow.The unsettled atmospheric system had generated two-day precipitation tallies of more than 1 1/2 inches along the coast, over 2 inches in the inland valleys, well over 3 inches in the East County highlands and up to four-fifths of an inch in the deserts, according to the National Weather Service.

Up to about a foot of frozen white flakes fell in some mountain areas overnight in the highest reaches of the county, including Mount Laguna and Palomar Mountain, forecasters reported.

A winter weather advisory was in effect from Tuesday evening until 5 a.m. Thursday for San Diego County mountain communities. The icy conditions and winds up to 60 mph will make traveling through those locales "very difficult to impossible," the NWS cautioned.

As of just before 9:30 a.m, Wednesday, the local 48-hour precipitation totals included 3.61 inches on Palomar Mountain with 2 inches of snow; 5.10 at Henshaw Dam; 3.97 in Mesa Grande; 2.78 on Birch Hill; 3.67 in Oak Grove; 3.54 in Pine Hills; 3.42 in Julian; 2.94 on Otay Mountain; 3.68 at Lake Cuyamaca; and 2.85 in Skyline Ranch.

Among other moisture tallies over the period were 2.37 inches at Lake Wohlford; 2.69 in Santa Ysabel; 2.12 on Volcan Mountain; 2.26 in Valley Center; 2.16 in Escondido; 2.54 on Mount Woodson; 2.66 in Descanso; 2.01 in Deer Springs; 1.87 in San Onofre; 1.68 in Encinitas; 2.05 in Oceanside; 2.24 in Ramona; 1.98 in Rancho Bernardo; 1.95 in Poway; 1.66 in Carlsbad; 2.27 in Miramar; 1.47 in San Marcos; 1.79 in Kearny Mesa, 1.70 in La Mesa; 1.66 in Carlsbad; 1.80 in Santee; 1.99 in Bonsall; 1.28 in National City; 1.49 at Montgomery Field; 1.70 in Vista; 1.55 in Flinn Springs; 1.42 in Granite Hills; 1.30 in Point Loma; 1.01 in Borrego Palm Canyon; 1.24 at Brown Field.

Both Agua Caliente and Ocotillo wells remained the same, with no additional rain. Their totals were 0.22 in Agua Caliente; and 0.12 in Ocotillo Wells.

Another low-pressure system from the northwest could bring more precipitation to the county next week, forecasters reported.

City News Service contributed to this report.