Guess how much rain we’ll have, win a ski weekend

After a bone-dry start to the 2019-20 rainfall season and record heat on Sunday, San Diego County is expected to get its wettest days since February when a cold storm moves into the region this week.

San Diego could record an inch to 1.5 inches of rain by Friday, according to National Weather Service forecasters. The mountains could get 2 inches.

Rain could start as early as Tuesday afternoon and continue sporadically through Friday morning, although the bulk is expected to fall Wednesday and Thursday.

The rain should be beneficial to the parched region, which had been under a red-flag warning for high fire danger through Sunday night. However, thunderstorms are possible, and some downpours could be heavy enough to produce minor, localized flooding.

The storm should also bring the coolest days since early March, with highs at the coast and inland valleys in the low 60s. Snow is unlikely in the San Diego County mountains, except perhaps at the very top of Palomar Mountain, Cuyamaca Peak and in the Mount Laguna area.

Lindbergh Field, site of San Diego’s official weather station, hit 88 degrees on Sunday. That tied the record for Nov. 17, set in 1976. Escondido (94) and Alpine (85) set daily maximum records.

Does the rain this week signal a shift from super dry to wet, and will this shift hold for the rest of the winter? It is now your chance to play forecaster. Tell us how much rain you think San Diego will get this season, which ends Sept. 30, 2020.

If your prediction is correct, you could win two-day ski lift tickets for four at Snow Valley Mountain Resort in Running Springs, plus two nights lodging at Lake Arrowhead Resort. The second-place finisher gets a $50 rain gauge from Grangetto’s Farm and Garden Supply.

Predict the total at San Diego International Airport, site of the city’s official weather station. The total for the season, which started Oct. 1, is 0.00 so far.

We typically receive more than 500 entries. So to break potential ties (three years ago, we had a three-way tie for first), also tell us the calendar day that you think will be the wettest. Including that tie-breaker improves your chances of winning.

There are three ways to enter the contest: Enter online at: https://tinyurl.com/yhdanzgk after reading rules and other details. You can also send your entry via email to rob.krier@sduniontribune.com. Be sure to include your full name, a phone number so we can reach you if you win, and the tie-breaker.

Entries can also be snail-mailed to: Precipitation Prediction Contest, C/O Robert Krier, San Diego Union-Tribune, 600 B St., #1201, San Diego CA 92101. All entries must be received by Nov. 25.