The weather in America’s Finest City has had a bit of an identity crisis the past few days and the forecast for the next couple of days is shaping up to be wet and wild.

The National Weather Service is predicting that the second storm in less than a week is scheduled to hit San Diego County dropping three to six inches of snow in the mountains of East County and up to three-quarters of an inch of rain in the inland valleys.

A winter storm advisory has been issued for East County San Diego (El Cajon, Lakeside, Santee, Alpine, Julian, Ramona) that will be in effect from 1 p.m. this afternoon until 10 a.m. Thursday. Residents can expect cold winds of up to 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 miles per hour into the evening.

Commuters on Interstate 8 are encouraged to drive cautiously as conditions are expected to be especially bad on that particular stretch of freeway. The storm is expected to have a heavy presence this afternoon and stretch into the evening.

Forecasters predict this storm system will likely last until Thursday morning (February 16.) Drivers traveling along Routes 78 and 79 are encouraged to equip their vehicles with snow chains for better mobility.

East County residents are encouraged to prepare their plants and animals as temperatures are expected to drop well below freezing overnight.

After the storm dissipates on Thursday, San Diego is expected to have a cool and moderate weekend with temperatures averaging between 63 and 67 degrees, with partly cloudy skies and no sign of rain.