Rain is expected in San Diego County today as another winter storm rolls over the region, bringing with it a chance of heavy snow in the mountains.
The National Weather Service has scheduled a winter storm watch for the mountain areas from this afternoon through Wednesday afternoon.
"A cold low pressure system is forecast to move across Southern
California during this time period and there is the possibility of heavy snow in the mountains,'' the agency reported.
Forecasters said the snow level will drop from 5,000 feet to 3,000 feet overnight, with up to 5 inches of snow accumulation likely.
There's a 50 percent chance of measurable precipitation today for the beaches, valleys and mountains, and a slight chance of hail-producing thunderstorms tonight throughout the county, according to the Weather Service.
Temperatures today were expected to peak in the high 50s to low 60s for the beaches and valleys, low 40s to low 50s in the mountains and in the low to mid-60s in the deserts.
The Weather Service said temps will drop tonight to the 40s along the coast and in the deserts, low 30s in the valleys and mid-20s in the mountains.
Free sandbags are available to San Diego residents at several fire and lifeguard stations around the city.
Residents and businesses in flood-prone areas can get up to 10 free sandbags at a half-dozen San Diego Fire-Rescue Department stations and at lifeguard stations in Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla Shores, according to the mayor's office.
The sandbags are empty but can be filled at city beaches. Sandbags are available at the following SDRFD stations:
-- Fire Station 15, 4711 Voltaire St., Ocean Beach;
-- Fire Station 21, 750 Grand Ave., Pacific Beach;
-- Fire Station 28, 3880 Kearny Villa Road, Kearny Mesa;
-- Fire Station 29, 198 W. San Ysidro Blvd., San Ysidro;
-- Fire Station 33, 16966 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo; and
-- Fire Station 37, 11640 Spring Canyon Road, Scripps Ranch.
