Forecast shifting, but lots of rain still on the way

A significant rain storm remains on track to move into San Diego County Monday, kicking off what is expected to be a very wet week,

a National Weather Service meteorologist said Sunday.

There could be some drizzle very late Sunday night, but it is more likely the rainfall will begin Monday afternoon, said Tina Stall of the NWS.

“It’s gonna rain,” Stall said. “It looks like probably from one-half to 1 inch in most valley locations, probably closer to an inch, and probably week-long totals of 3 to 6 inches in the valleys and more in the mountains and coastal slopes, as well.”

The precipitation will move out on Tuesday, but more will arrive late

that night, with rain Wednesday through Saturday, she said.

“Thursday is looking like the big-ticket day, the nastiest of days,”

Stall said, because of stronger winds and a chance of thunderstorms.

Stall said that each storm will carry a chance of flash flooding but the possibility will only grow as the week goes on and the ground becomes saturated.

San Diego lifeguards plan to activate their swift water rescue units,

while Cal Fire will have bulldozers, four-wheel drive vehicles and 177

firefighters available to deal with possible flood situations.

Many area fire and lifeguard stations have made sandbags available the

past few days, but many have already been taken by property and business owners.