Growing hurricane off Mexico might send rain and surf to San Diego County

A hurricane that’s gaining strength off the southwestern coast of Mexico might send rain and surf to San Diego County late this week, easing the wildfire danger while potentially creating strong rip currents at the coast.

The National Hurricane Center said Monday that Hurricane Priscilla is likely to become a Category 2 storm, meaning that its winds will be in the 96-to-110 mph range. The system could become substantially larger.

The hurricane is moving north-northwest, throwing off moisture that could flow through San Diego County from late Thursday through late Saturday. The National Weather Service said it’s possible that San Diego will get 0.20 inches of rain, while inland valleys and foothills give 0.40 inches and the mountains get as much as 1 inch.

San Diego International Airport did not receive any rain last October, which isn’t unusual. Most of the city’s rain typically falls from December through March.

The storm surf, if it arrives, would mostly affect south-facing beaches.