Forecasters are predicting a notable stretch of wet weather to sweep through North San Diego County this week as a slow-moving storm system brings widespread rain to coastal and inland communities.
The wet weather follows Santa Ana conditions that brought easterly breezes and higher winds inland and temperatures that reached into the mid-70s along the coast. Before that, an atmospheric river-fed storm system brought rain upward of 1 inch and more to North County communities.
The National Weather Service says showers are likely to begin midweek and continue into the early part of 2026, with heavier rain expected Wednesday night into New Year’s Day before tapering off later in the week.
In Encinitas, conditions are expected to turn noticeably wetter by midweek. Forecasters show a strong chance of showers on Wednesday, with rain becoming more widespread by Wednesday night and into New Year’s Day.
New precipitation totals in the area could reach between a quarter and a half-inch during the more active periods, with additional rain possible Dec. 31 through Jan. 1 as the system lingers. Winds could reach 10 to 15 mph along the coast during the wettest phases.
Oceanside is similarly poised for several days of unsettled weather, with forecasters calling for showers to move in after a mostly cloudy start to the week, turning heavier later in the week through New Year’s Day. The coastal city can expect periodic rain and breezy conditions around the system’s strongest bands, with totals likely in a similar range to nearby Encinitas.
In San Marcos, forecast models indicate a higher chance of rain late Wednesday into Thursday, with rainfall totals commonly near a quarter-inch or more over successive days. Long-range forecasts suggest that rain could continue intermittently into the weekend as the same broad weather pattern persists.
The approaching storm is linked to a typical winter pattern in Southern California characterized by Pacific moisture streams riding in from the west and south, sometimes referred to as an atmospheric river. These can bring prolonged periods of rain when the plume of moisture taps into a slower storm track upstream, allowing bands of precipitation to impact the region over multiple days.
Meteorologists note that rain falling over hard-baked ground or hillsides can run off quickly, raising the potential for ponding on roads and localized flooding in low-lying areas. They advise residents to stay alert to updated forecast details, particularly for the peak periods of rainfall Wednesday night and New Year’s Day.
Conditions are expected to gradually shift toward drier air by late in the week, though scattered showers could persist around breaks in the weather pattern. Residents can check up-to-date forecasts on the National Weather Service website and through local weather services as the event unfolds.
This report was partially written using artificial intelligence, then edited and fact-checked against source material. View our AI policy on the About Us page.