A few scattered showers left over from a late-summer storm that swept through the drought-weary region are expected across parts of San Diego County other than the deserts Wednesday morning but should ease up later in the day.
Scattered or isolated rainfall was in the forecast for the coast, the valleys and the mountains. The mostly light showers and drizzle are expected to subside by late Wednesday morning as clouds break up from the coast inland to the mountains and clearer skies prevail, according to the National Weather Service.
"Scattered showers just keep on coming this morning from the coast to the mountain crests," according to the weather service. "A few heavier showers are mixed in with the widespread light showers and drizzle going on."
The remnants of former Hurricane Linda brought rain and cooler — but humid — conditions Tuesday, but began tapering off as of mid-afternoon.
The rain was, however, strong enough to set several records. Automated gauges collected 1.15 inches at Lindbergh Field, exceeding the former Sept. 15 milestone of 0.12 of an inch, set in 1906. Tuesday was also the second wettest September day at the airport, behind Sept. 30, 1921, when 1.23 inches of rain fell, according to the National Weather Service.
The 1.07 inches of rain recorded at Oceanside Harbor and 1.15 inches in Vista crushed old records of two-tenths of an inch and .12 inches, respectively, both set Sept. 15, 1997; the tenth of an inch in Chula Vista doubled a prior record, set in 1934; and 1.25 inches on Palomar Mountain, three- quarters of an inch in Escondido and .67 of an inch in Alpine topped the .52, .15 and .05, respectively, that fell that day in 1997.
The cloudbursts inundated some roadways with flows of water or muddy debris, helping trigger numerous traffic accidents. Between midnight and 9 p.m. Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol logged 385 accidents, with 112 of those occurring between noon and 2 p.m. That compares with the average of about 140 that the agency typically handles over a full day of dry weather.
Forecasters said drier and hotter conditions are expected this weekend into next week as high pressure builds.
"Dry and warmer weather comes this weekend with temperatures on Sunday and Monday soaring back into the 90s for most areas away from the immediate coast," according to the weather service. "It will also chase away whatever lame attempt the marine layer makes on rebuilding."
