Batten Down the Hatches Once Again

A surprisingly blustery weather front moved through San Diego County on Friday, bringing cold winds, snow in the mountains and scattered rain elsewhere but promising a sunnier, slightly warmer but still windy weekend in its wake.

Friday’s winds--which included gusts of more than 50 m.p.h. in local mountains--temporarily left 5,000 customers without electricity in Hillcrest when a television antenna was blown into power lines, and about 500 people lost their electricity in Pauma Valley.

Snow was falling Friday night at Palomar Mountain and in the Laguna Mountains from Julian to Interstate 8, but was expected to quickly melt today, and the California Highway Patrol said it didn’t expect the need for chains.

The National Weather Service said the weather is expected to warm a little under clear skies today and Sunday as the cold front leaves San Diego.

But forecasters issued a wind advisory for travelers, warning of continuing high winds in the mountains and deserts, with blowing dust that might reduce visibility close to zero through Saturday.

“The weather front was expected to go through dry, and we expected it to pass to the north and east of us,� said Wally Cegeil of the weather service. “But it came over us, instead, and it kicked up a little weather in San Diego.�

The front brought traces of rain throughout many parts of San Diego County, including 0.10 inches in Julian before it turned to snow.

The California Highway Patrol said Friday that it was busy with numerous fender-benders caused by wet roadways.

Off the coast, downright inhospitable conditions shooed away water enthusiasts.

“It looks like ‘Victory at Sea,’ � San Diego city lifeguard Laura King said of the gray, windy tableau.

Added lifeguard Chappy Mico, “There are a few sailboats way out there, and some surfers trying to catch I-don’t-know-what.�

The Coast Guard said it issued wind warnings to boaters but that there were few at sea anyway.

Overnight scattered showers were expected to give way today to clear skies, and Cegeil predicted winds up to 30 m.p.h. throughout much of the county today and up to 40 m.p.h. in the mountains, dropping to 30 m.p.h. on Sunday.

Highs throughout the county Friday included 63 at Lindbergh Field, compared to a normal high of 68 for the date; 63 in Escondido; 68 at Borrego Springs; 46 at Julian, and 36 at Mt. Laguna.

Today’s forecast calls for temperatures reaching the mid-60s and winds up to 30 m.p.h. along the beaches, with highs of up to 72 and winds of up to 25 m.p.h. in the inland valleys. Temperatures will climb by several degrees Sunday.