A Pacific storm that will begin to spread across San Diego County late Saturday could produce enough rain and snow through Tuesday to significantly lower the threat of wildfires across the region, the National Weather Service indicated in an advisory.

Following weeks of critically bone-dry conditions, San Diego County could finally get a taste of rain over the weekend.

With many parts of Los Angeles County still smoldering from wildfires, the expected rain this weekend would seem like a welcome relief. But how the rain falls could make the difference between a disaster respite or a disaster repeat.