Oceanside Braces For Stormy Holiday Week That Could Impact Travel

OCEANSIDE, CA — Bundle up Oceansider's — cold and wet weather was forecast to arrive with two storm systems starting Wednesday, which could create treacherous conditions for travelers planning to hit the road this holiday week.

The storms could snarl traffic and raise the threat of flooding and mudslides in areas scarred by wildfires, forecasters warned.

Beginning Wednesday, the first storm was expected to coat mountaintops in snow, dump 1 to 3 inches of rain in the coastal and valley areas and soak the foothills and mountains with 3 to 5 inches of rain, the National Weather Service announced over the weekend.

Gusts of up to 30 to 50 mph were also expected to jostle the region, along with plummeting temperatures.

Weather Conditions predicted for Oceanside from the National Weather Service

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night
A chance of rain, mainly after 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 54. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday
Rain likely, mainly after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 59. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night
Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Friday
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday Night
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Christmas Day
A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 56.

Saturday Night
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50.

Sunday
A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.

Sunday Night
A slight chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Monday
A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 53.

This video briefing covers the potential for 2 significant rounds of precipitation between Thursday/Thursday night (round 1) and Friday night/Saturday (round 2) impact holiday travel. The rainfall may be heavy at times with snowfall above 6000 feet.

The first storm system was expected to bring rainfall Wednesday through Friday, peaking on Thursday.

Authorities were bracing for "moderate to brief heavy rain," which could trigger flooding and minor debris flows in area of the Southland that have been scarred by wildfires. The rain and lowering snow levels could impact travel as Californians hit the road to reach their holiday destinations.

The showery weather system was expected to linger into the weekend just as a second storm was expected to arrive to bring light rain and chilling temperatures to the region between Christmas Day and Sunday.

News of the incoming wet weather comes after storms earlier this month shattered rain records across California. In Los Angeles, 2.16 inches fell, breaking a 133-year-old rainfall record. In Sacramento, 2.51 inches of rain fell, breaking a 1.19 inch record set in 2002.

Powerful storms charged through the Golden State on Dec. 14, drenching drought-stricken regions that desperately needed rain.

The National Weather Service reported remarkable rainfall in several parts of the state.
North of the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Tamalpais accumulated more than 11 inches over 72 hours. By early Tuesday, nearly 7 inches of rain had fallen in one area of Santa Barbara County, northwest of Los Angeles. More than 4.6 inches fell within 24 hours in Orange County's Silverado Canyon, south of LA, where sheriff's deputies rescued residents from homes inundated by mudslides.

While such storms may not be enough to stamp out the drought entirely, they are helping to quench a dry state.

Jeffrey Mount, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California's Water Policy Center, this month told the Associated Press that water watchers are excited about all of the snow these storms are dumping in the Sierra Nevada.

Melted snow that runs into California's watershed when the weather warms makes up about a third of the state's water supply. It's important for a strong base of snow to develop in December so that storms later in the winter have something to build on, he said. Most western U.S. reservoirs that deliver water to states, cities, tribes, farmers and utilities rely on melted snow in the springtime.

"You're literally putting water in the bank up there," he said.

Any moisture is much-needed in the broader region that's been gripped by drought that scientists have said is caused by climate change. The latest U.S. drought monitor shows parts of Montana, Oregon, California, Nevada and Utah are classified as being in exceptional drought, which is the worst category.

The City of Oceanside has resources available for residents and businesses to help prepare.

• If your home or business is flood-prone, pick up sandbags now, before it rains. Free sand and sandbags are offered to Oceanside residents at Moody's Recycling at El Corazon, Located at 3210 Oceanside Blvd. Moody's also has free sand and bags, or pre-filled sandbags for $2/each. Video tips on filling and stacking sandbags to divert flow away from your property.
• Learn what steps to take before, during and after a flood.
• Make a family emergency plan
• Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit
• Sign up for mobile AlertSD phone alerts, stay tuned to TV or radio weeather updates
• When possible, stay off roads during heavy rain periods
• Never drive through a flooded area, turn around, don't drown.

The County of San Diego and CAL FIRE are offering free sandbags to residents who live in unincorporated areas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.