A Little More Rain May Be on the Way

A patchy cotton field of clouds drifted in from the sea Tuesday in the wake of a cold front that scattered showers across Southern California, and the National Weather Service said a few more drops of rain might fall late today.

Cloudiness was expected to increase, blotting out the last traces of sunshine by early afternoon, and forecasters said there was at least a 20% chance of light showers before Thursday morning.

A weak storm system, the weather service explained, was spotted heading eastward toward the Central California coast. The system was expected to come ashore today, reaching Southern California by afternoon.

But any moisture it brings should be the last for a while, according to meteorologists, who predicted fair skies and slightly warmer temperatures for the rest of the week as atmospheric pressure increases along the coast.

High Reached 61

In San Diego the high temperature at Lindbergh Field on Tuesday was 61 degrees, with relative humidity ranging from 65% to 95%. The forecast called for slightly less humidity today.

Monday’s storm dropped 0.07 of an inch of rain in downtown San Diego, bringing the season total to 7.62 inches--more than twice the 3.62 inches normal for this time of year. Only 4.68 inches had fallen by this time last year.

The storm also left 0.07 of an inch of water in Chula Vista, 0.10 in Spring Valley, 0.16 in El Cajon, 0.08 in Del Mar, 0.25 in Oceanside, 0.12 in Point Loma and 0.38 in Escondido.

Traces of snow, which quickly melted, fell in the mountains. Mt Laguna received 0.55 of an inch of rain, and Palomar recorded 1.80 inches.