By Jim Purpura. Posted July 17, 2012, 10:19 AM.

The Eastern Pacific is an active area for hurricanes in the summer and fall. The cold waters normally found offshore from Southern California and easterly winds in the tropics normally keep these storms away from our area.

Fabio will be an exception to this general rule. Tropical Storm Fabio, off the coast of Baja California was producing hurricane force winds just a few days ago. It will be weakening to a tropical depression, but southwesterly winds will be moving its remnants over Southern California soon.

The weather result will be a round of showers and thunderstorms, most numerous at and near the coast, Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.

Rainfall amounts will be highly variable, with most locations getting little if any rainfall, while one or two locations may see a 1/4 to 1/2 inch from heavier showers and thunderstorms.

Tropical storms and hurricanes do visit southern California, but infrequently. In 1858, a hurricane hit the San Diego area, the only recorded instance. In 1939, a tropical storm made landfall in the area.

Fabio spinning off Baja California on Monday. Photo courtesy of NOAA.