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Winter Storm To Bring Rain, Snow And Gusty Winds To San Diego County

A significant shift in the weather is expected in San Diego County later today, as a Pacific storm arrives and brings much cooler temperatures, snow, rain and gusty winds to the region through Sunday, forecasters said.

"A cold Pacific storm will bring significantly colder air to the region, as well as lower elevation snow,'' according to the National Weather Service.

Rainfall amounts from the storm are expected to range from up to a half- inch in coastal and valley areas to up to an inch in the mountains.

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The weather service issued a winter weather advisory for snow and blowing snow in the mountains from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday. According to an NWS advisory, the snow level will be around 5,000 feet Friday morning, then plummet during the day to around 3,500 feet and down to 2,500 feet heading into Saturday.

Three to seven inches of snow is expected to accumulate above 4,000 feet, while up to nine inches is possible above 6,000 feet and up to two inches is possible near 3,000 feet, according to the weather service.

Sustained west winds of 15 to 30 miles per hour, gusting up to 50 mph, are also expected in the mountains and in the deserts.

A wind advisory is scheduled for the mountains and deserts from 8 o'clock this evening to 10 p.m. Friday. Winds are expected to be strongest along the mountain ridge tops and the desert slopes, as well as through and below the favored canyons and passes.

Blowing snow will cause visibility in the mountains to be down to a quarter-mile at times, according to the weather service.

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Motorists in the mountains are encouraged to carry chains for the next several days.

"Cold conditions will continue in the mountains the next several nights, with freezing temperatures potentially causing areas of black ice or slippery roads,'' an NWS advisory said.