Our top story on midday edition, they say it is the beginning. Today's downpour is the first of a trouble header of storms expected to dump as much as 4-5 inches of rain. It is shaking up to be the biggest event we have seen in seven years. We will speak with officials about the hazards of last lighting and the possibility of strong winds and downed trees. We have a overview of the storm system. Alex is a urologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. Ockham back. Thank you. I have heard this is the weakest of the series headed our where. It did not feel like that this morning. The water was running down the gutters hard and traffic was horrible. You got from a half of an inch to an inch of rain. That is the beginning. The storms we will see following this our struggle. Have the mountains got snow yet? Not get. The snow levels are at 6000 feet you have to go to big bear. They got 6 inches of new snow this point. Date do expect snow in San Diego's high country? Correct. We will see snow Friday night and Friday afternoon. Of course, we will have Sunday night and Monday. The roadways around there are going to be hard to get to, is the right? Yes. It will be a wet and heavy snow. It will be difficult getting up above 5500 feet. Do we see a break between this storm that we are having today and the next one coming up? The sunshine started to peak outside. We have a good break this afternoon. You will probably see another shower or two, depending on where you are. The storm we are looking ever Friday is twice as strong. It has everything going for. It has more moisture and went. -- Wind. It comes in in the morning hours. After the commute, between 10 and noon, the whole afternoon is a washout the writing evening. The good news is that Saturday, if you could make it through Friday and Friday afternoon without trees falling down, it will be difficult not to in some places. Any low-lying flooding -- Saturday looks like a nice debris -- day. The one we'll see will be the stronger the tomorrow? The third one, we call it an atmospheric river. The third one is a true atmospheric river. It is a high area of tropical moisture that will be focused on San Diego starting late Sunday morning. It is probably not letting up until Sunday night and Monday. It will be showers around. If you are unlucky enough to be at 6000 feet, that will be a lot is no. We talking about flooding and rescue crews coming up but how closely does the national weather service work with the county? Very close. We are in continuous County with the San Diego lifeguards who are our Swiftwater rescue crews that go out to will flooded areas, vehicles that get submerged. They are lifeguards but they are also in lot land water rescue. We give them forecast predictions. Are we expecting worse? Less? The prediction for this and Eagle River which should go over 10 feet which can calls problems with the mall and parking structures. I know this is unfair. I have heard that some people are saying the series of storms will be the drought buster for Southern California. Do you agree? The one thing we can say, expecting up to 4 inches in downtown San Diego, perhaps eight in Alpine, nearly a foot of rainfall in Pine Valley, we think we will be at seasonal normals for the year. It is impressive. It may not be enough to pull us out of the drought. I have been speaking with the weather service. Thank you.
Despite a small window of sunshine, storms are expected to continue in San Diego County as the the first in a series of Pacific storms with the potential to deliver the heaviest precipitation since 2010 moves through the region.
Through Monday, the storms will drop heavy snow in the mountains, ranging from 6 inches to a foot between 4,000 feet and 5,500 feet, 1 to 3 feet between 5,500 and 7,000 feet and 3 feet or more on higher peaks, according to the National Weather Service.
Related: Three Strong 'Atmospheric River' Storms Take Aim At San Diego County
"Significant impacts are expected, including very hazardous travel conditions along mountain roadways," forecasters said. Interstate 8 and county roads S-1 and S-7 may be affected.
Over the same five-day period, forecasters also indicated the storms would deliver 1 to 2 of rain to the deserts, 2 to 4 inches along the coast, 3 to 6 inches to the valleys and 6 inches to a foot of rain in the mountains. Flooding may be possible and residents living in flood-prone areas should take precautions, forecasters said.
Related: Emergency Personnel Prepare For Flooding, Mountain Snow
"Over time, the soil will have decreasing capacity to absorb rainfall resulting in increasing runoff," according to the weather service. "Flash flooding will also be possible, especially during bursts of heavier rainfall on Friday, Sunday and Monday."
In the mountains and deserts, southwest to west winds of 20 to 35 miles per hour with gusts of 50 mph or higher will ramp up to 25 to 45 mph with gusts topping 65 mph Friday afternoon into Saturday morning, according to the NWS.
A wind advisory for the mountains and deserts will expire at 4 a.m. Friday and a more severe high wind watch for the same areas will extend from late Thursday night though Saturday morning.
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The storms will also lead to problems at the beaches, such as strong rip currents and waves big enough to sweep beachgoers off jetties and rocks. The surf is expected to ramp up to 8 to 12 feet with sets to 16 feet Friday, lower somewhat over the weekend the increase to 8 to 12 feet again on Monday, according to the NWS.
A high surf warning will remain in effect from 4 p.m. today through 10 p.m. Tuesday.
"A high surf warning indicates that dangerous, battering (waves) will pound the shoreline. This will result in very dangerous swimming conditions, and deadly rip currents," according to the weather service.
The heaviest precipitation with the first storm will likely be during the morning hours and commuters may be affected. Isolated thunderstorms will also be possible throughout San Diego County.
Forecasters said the downpours would ease up some and become scattered showers during the afternoon and evening.
The next storm system, set to hit Friday, will have the potential for thunderstorms and flash flooding, forecasters said.
"On Friday, the next wave will arrive. This one is wetter and windier and lasts pretty much all day Friday into early Saturday," according to the weather service.
Strong wind gusts capable of downing trees may also be possible Friday, as will snowfall down to as low as 5,000 feet.
The snow level is expected to drop to 4,500 feet Friday night, and wind gusts in the mountains may top 65 miles per hour.
A break between storms is expected Saturday, but the next and possibly strongest in the series of storms will arrive Sunday morning. The snow level is expected to drop to around 4,000 feet Monday, forecasters said.
"A third storm will bring rain Sunday, then turn to snow Sunday night through Monday," according to the weather service. "Strong gusty winds will occur at times as well, along with dense fog."
