The National Weather Service office in San Diego is forecasting a major winter storm beginning as early as Tuesday night and continuing into Friday.
Rainfall is expected to total 2 to 4 inches on the coast and in the valleys, 4 to 8 inches in the mountains and .5 to 2 inches in the deserts.
“Widespread rain is expected, and may be heavy at times, with isolated thunderstorms possible,” the weather service said. “Several inches of rain my fall in the valleys and even on the coast.”
The snow level could drop to 3,000 feet by Friday at the end of the storm.
The weather service said the severity of the storm will cause “significant impacts on a busy holiday travel period, with widespread hazardous conditions on the roadways.”
The storm will be accompanied by lower temperatures, with highs only in the 60s in most areas on Thanksgiving day.