SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Expect minimal weather-related delays in and out of San Diego this week for Thanksgiving. As holiday travel picks up across the country, the forecast in San Diego includes a notable reprieve from the wet, impactful weather felt around other parts of the state of California and the Pacific Northwest.
Instead, San Diego County can expect mostly dry skies with near normal temperatures, though an increase in cloud cover is likely. An atmospheric river in Central California will continue to shift south as Thanksgiving nears. Despite heavier accumulations to the north, only very light sprinkles are possible in San Diego for early Wednesday into early Thursday. Models point to 0.05" of total rainfall between Wednesday and Thursday with most spots staying dry, and only a few scattered showers expected.
Daily model runs continue to decrease in the amount of rain expected as this atmospheric river drifts south, despite accumulations being recorded in areas as close as Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Instead, a mix of sun and clouds are expected with near seasonal temperatures as highs climb to the 60s and 70s virtually every afternoon through the end of the week.
Historically, San Diego would see an average afternoon high of 68 degrees on Thanksgiving Day, very close to what is expected for this year, 2024. Overnight lows would typically be near 52 degrees. While last week brought Santa Ana winds that cooled our overnight temperatures down to the below-normal range, the recent increase in moisture and cloud cover will allow those clouds to act like a blanket for the county and hold in some of the warmth from the day prior.
On average, by Thanksgiving Day San Diego would see about 0.71" of rain on the ground for the month of November. Rain totals have mostly come in below normal, however, with only 0.13" recorded so far this month. The 2024 Water Year is also at a deficit with only 0.13" recorded since October 1st of this year, despite average being 1.11" so far.
The forecast this week includes a decrease in cloud cover by early next week. Temperatures are also likely to climb slightly between Wednesday and the upcoming weekend with most high temperatures in the low to mid 70s by the weekend.
