Rain, possible flash-flooding coming

An approaching Pacific storm promises to deliver some much-needed rain along with possible flash-flooding problems to the San Diego region this week, authorities reported Monday.

The wet clouds out of the west are expected to douse the county with moderate to heavy showers for about 24 hours, starting Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The federal agency has issued a flash-flood watch for the period, warning that runoff and debris flows may create driving hazards and pose property-damage threats, especially in areas denuded by last fall’s wildfires.

The San Diego area, however, is in relatively good shape in terms of burn-zone flooding potential, as compared with other California communities that have been hit by wildfires in recent months, meteorologist Stan Wasowski said.

This week’s storm is likely to drop 1/2 inch to 1 inch of precipitation along the coast, 0.75 to 1.25 inches in the inland valleys, 1.5 to 3 inches in the mountains and about a half-inch in the deserts.

Since July 1, a total of 0.32 of an inch of rain has fallen at Lindbergh Field, Wasowski said. The 30-year average for the period is 1.56 inches.