SAN DIEGO - Cooler temperatures and showers are in store for San Diego County later this week, forecasters said today.

A low pressure system off the California coast is expected to move slowly toward the east and southeast this week, bringing showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms to Southern California late Wednesday night through early Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency said general rainfall amounts will range from one-tenth to a quarter-inch near the coast to around half an inch in the Advertisement

[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] mountains, but thunderstorms could produce heavy rainfall and small hail in some areas. The snow level will likely drop to 6,500 to 7,000 feet Thursday evening, according to the NWS.

Daytime highs are expected to be around 10 degrees below average at lower elevations and 15 to 20 degrees below average in the mountains at higher elevations.

"This is a sharp contrast to early last week when high temperatures were 10 to 15 degrees above average and locally 20 degrees above average," according to an NWS advisory.