217 FXUS66 KSGX 162044 AFDSGXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Diego CA 144 PM PDT Tue Sep 16 2025
.SYNOPSIS... Remnants of Tropical Storm Mario will bring increasing moisture and clouds to the area for the middle of the week. There are chances of showers and thunderstorms for the mountains and deserts from this afternoon through early next week. For Wednesday through Friday morning there are chances for showers and thunderstorms west of the mountains. The marine layer will become shallower with the potential for minimal or no low cloud coverage for the middle to end of the week.
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.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE... SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES...
Satellite at 1 PM was showing areas of cumulus clouds over the mountains, locally into the valleys. No precipitation has been detected thus far, although convection has developed in the mountains south of the border. The 12Z KNXK sounding was showing 1.25 inches of precipitable water with 700 j/kg of most unstable CAPE. One inhibiting factor is a fairly substantial inversion near 700 mb. This could limit convective development, even with the otherwise favorable conditions. The slight chances of showers and thunderstorms over the mountains has been maintained in the afternoon forecast package.
Chances for showers and thunderstorms become more widespread for Wednesday afternoon through early Friday morning. It looks like there will be enough moisture and instability tomorrow afternoon for thunderstorms to develop over the mountains, locally into the deserts ahead of the main moisture surge. As we move into Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, shower chances become more widespread west of the mountains, with the potential for isolated thunderstorms to develop. Shower coverage overnight may be fairly scattered. For Thursday afternoon, shower and thunderstorm chances continue for the inland valleys, mountains, and deserts. Depending on how strong the easterly flow is, it`s possible thunderstorms could drift closer to the coast. Flash flooding is possible where thunderstorms develop, especially in the mountains and deserts. Otherwise, main impacts will be frequent lightning and the potential for urban flooding where showers/thunderstorms develop west of the mountains. Based on the latest high resolution guidance rainfall rates west of the mountains will generally be 0.25"/hr or less, but could be locally higher where thunderstorms develop; in the mountains rainfall rates look to be around 1"/hr; and 0.50"/hr in the deserts.
High resolution guidance is indicating some lingering isolated heavier showers or thunderstorms overnight Thursday into Friday morning. For Friday, it looks like the best chances of showers and thunderstorms will be over the mountains potentially into the deserts. Chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms will continue for the mountains, deserts, and potentially inland valleys into early next week.
The increase in moisture and clouds, Wednesday and Thursday will result in high temperatures for inland areas to cool several degrees. High temperatures on Thursday will be as much as 8 to 12 degrees below average for the mountains. High temperatures for inland areas will warm around 10 degrees from Thursday through Sunday with Sunday high temperatures mostly a few to around 5 degrees below average. High temperatures on Sunday will range from the mid 70s near the coast to the upper 80s to mid 90s for the Inland Empire with the mid 90s to around 100 for the lower deserts. There could be another influx of tropical moisture early next week from a second tropical system that is yet to fully develop. More information will be available in the coming days.
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.AVIATION... 162000Z...Coast...Low clouds generally not expected tonight into Wednesday with low to moderate confidence. Clouds will be very patchy with bases 300-700 feet MSL. If any clouds form, they will form between 09-17Z Wed.
Valleys/Mountains/Deserts...VFR conditions through tonight. Clouds over mountains will continue a slight chance TSRA until 01Z. CB bases AOA 10000 feet MSL, with tops reaching 30000 feet MSL. Lightning, gusty winds, and reduced VIS expected where any TSRA develops.
Regionwide...SCT clouds becoming BKN around 10000 feet MSL after 00Z through much of Wednesday. ISO TSRA across all areas after 18Z Wed with cloud bases AOA 10K ft MSL; storm chances increasing on Thursday.
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.MARINE...There is a slight chance of thunderstorms Wednesday through Friday, with the greatest chance on Thursday afternoon and evening. Any storms could briefly produce lightning, gusty winds and choppy seas. Quieter conditions expected over the weekend.
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.BEACHES...There is a slight chance of thunderstorms Wednesday through Friday, with the greatest chance on Thursday afternoon and evening. Storms may be accompanied by cloud to ground lightning and gusty winds.
APR
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.SKYWARN... Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions.
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.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...None. PZ...None.
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PUBLIC...CO AVIATION/MARINE/BEACHES...APR
NWS SGX Office Area Forecast Discussion