Weather Watch: The Start of the Week May Be a Wet One

A cold storm is set to move into the region late Sunday, and should bring colder temperatures, gusty wind, rain and snow to some areas Monday, the National Weather Service forecast Saturday.

The incoming system is expected to bring a limited amount of rain, mostly west of the mountains, along with low temperatures, according to the NWS.

The storm may bring 2 to 5 inches of snow Monday to mountain areas at altitudes as low as 3,000 feet, such as Pine Valley, Julian and Laguna Mountain, according to the NWS. Forecasters hedged their bets, but said accumulations of between 8 and 12 inches were possible by Monday night.

Strong and potentially damaging winds are expected in deserts and mountain areas as well, the NWS said. Gusts of up to 75 miles per hour could be possible over mountain ridges through Monday night.

Travel through mountain passes could become dangerous as wind speeds increase, temperatures fall below freezing and roads become slippery, the NWS said. Visibility could be occasionally reduced to near zero in falling and blowing snow, the NWS said.

The NWS forecast for Encinitas:

Tonight: Cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 50. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Monday: Showers likely, mainly before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. West wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 47. West wind between 15 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

-City News Service