Freezing overnight temperatures bringing coldest air of the season to San Diego County
Update: This story has been updated to reflect new advisories issued by the National Weather Service for San Diego County.
SAN DIEGO — Bundle up! Overnight temperatures in San Diego County will dip below freezing in some areas this week. The National Weather Service called Sunday the “coldest night of the winter so far” as lows dipped into the 30s and low 20s in some areas.
NWS San Diego issued a frost advisory for the overnight hours through 9 a.m. Monday for San Diego County valleys, desert areas and the Coachella Valley. Another frost advisory will be in place overnight Tuesday from 1 a.m. until 9 a.m.
California waves approached historic levels during late December storm
Nearby, a freeze warning has been issued for portions of the Inland Empire, which was in effect overnight Monday, and again overnight Tuesday through 9 a.m.
Overnight temperatures in Oceanside reached a low of 32 degrees, while the City of San Diego got down to 39 degrees overnight Monday, the NWS updated Monday.
Escondido saw temperatures as low as 30 degrees. El Cajon got down to 32 overnight.
According to NWS, most areas west of the mountains saw their coldest morning of the winter overnight. Ramona saw its coldest temperatures since 2020 at 21 degrees. Idyllwild reached a chilling 17 degrees.
Daytime temperatures will be a little chillier Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the low 60s and lows again in the 30s for inland areas. Mountain areas can expect nighttime lows in the 20s all week.
Mountain areas in San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties — including Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake, Running Springs and Idyllwild-Pine Cove — saw a few inches of snow fall over the weekend.
There were reports of snowy, icy conditions at Palomar Mountain on Sunday, according to CHP.
An inclement weather shelter alert has been issued for Sunday. Father Joe’s Villages at 1501 Imperial Ave will accept dozens of adults, and a few families with children and single women. The Paul Mirabile Center will also be accepting dozens of adults.
The Living Water Church of the Nazarene, at 1550 Market Street, will accept up to 28 adults. The San Diego Rescue Mission, at 120 Elm Street, will accept up to 10 single women.
First snow of winter in San Diego County blankets highest peaks
San Diego County and Orange County coastal areas were also under a wind advisory through 7 p.m. Sunday as large waves five to eight feet with sets up to 10 feet slammed the coast. The San Diego coast was a high surf advisory through 6 a.m. Monday.
Later this week, the new moon will bring the first king tides of 2024, with heights up to 7 feet. This comes after a series of high surf advisories in late December that prompted several coastal closures, as well as damage to local piers and other disruptions to the region’s beaches.
Large waves damage Ocean Beach Pier
The large waves during the late December storm approached historic levels throughout California. The largest wave recorded by a California buoy station reached 51.8 feet at Cape Mendocino.
In San Diego County, the largest individual wave measured by CDIP during that storm was 24.8 feet at the Mission Bay West buoy.
Cosmic phenomenon: King tides returning to San Diego coastline
San Diego County was also under a gale warning in coastal waters from San Mateo Point to the Mexican border, including San Clemente Island, through 3 a.m. Monday.
When temperatures dip below freezing, there are several things you can do to protect yourself and your family. Stay indoors when and if possible. To minimize the chance of your pipes freezing, leave faucets on at a low drip to keep water flowing.
Children’s Pool La Jolla seawall closed due to damage
Bring pets indoors, bundle up with a proper jacket, and cover exposed skin with hats, gloves, scarves, etc. And remember, heaters can be fire hazards. Only plug a space heater directly into the wall, keep things away from the heater that could cover it, and keep an eye on a heater that is on around kids and pets.
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