El Nino brings heavy wind, rain, and flooding to San Diego County

KUSI Newsroom,
Posted:

KUSI Newsroom

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – We’re tracking all of the trouble spots for you on our weather radar. There’s a lot of trouble spots around the county because of this El Nino-driven storm.

Latest weather updates: 

11:00 p.m. – Updated road closures:

  • Miramar Rd. between Camino Ruiz and Cabot Dr.
  • Convoy St. at Raytheon Rd.
  • Mission Center Rd between Hazard Center and Camino De La Reina
  • 4500 Mission Gorge Pl.
  • Avenida Del Rio
  • 1500 Hotel Cr. South
  • Cam De La Reina between Cam De La Siesta & Avenida Del Rio
  • Fashion Valley Rd. between Hotel Cr. North & Riverwalk Dr.
  • La Media Rd./Airway Rd.
  • Hollister St./Monument Rd.
  • Aldine Dr./Fairmount Av.
  • 4100 41st Street (east alley) 
  • Sorrento Valley Rd. at Carmel Mtn. Rd.

Areas to avoid:

  • Southbound Black Mtn. Rd. to Eastbound Mercy Rd.
  • Miramar Rd. between Camino Ruiz and Cabot
  • Eastbound Mercy Rd. at Black Mtn. Rd. 
  • 7300 Trade St. 
  • 10700 San Diego Mission Rd.
  • Aero Rd./Sandrock
  • Convoy St./Raytheon Rd.
  • 4500 Mission Gorge Pl.
  • 5300-5400 Mission Center Rd.
  • Avenida Del Rio
  • 1500 Hotel Cr. South
  • Camino De La Reina between Camino De La Siesta & Avenida Del Rio
  • Morena Blvd/Linda Vista
  • Midway Dr./Wing St. 
  • La Meda Rd./Airway Rd.
  • Hollister St./Monument Rd.
  • 3541 Ray St. #1-2
  • Aldine Dr./Fairmount Ave.
  • 4100 41st St.
  • 6600 University Ave.
  • Sorrento Valley Rd./Carmel Mtn. Rd.
  • Roselle Rd./Estuary Way
  • 5600 Carrol Canyon Rd.
  • 10200 Sorrento Valley Rd.

9:00 p.m. – The latest in a week full of intense El Nino-driven storms drenched the already soaked San Diego area Wednesday, swamping numerous streets and necessitating a spate of water rescues for a second day in a row while delivering significant rainfall and some snowfall in the mountains.

Over the day, the storm generated gusts up to nearly 45 mph along the coast, and ones considerably stronger in the East County highlands, with a maximum reading of 63 mph on Palomar Mountain.

Related link: Free sandbags available at Qualcomm Stadium 

During a 24-hour period ending at 5 p.m., the banks of dark clouds dropped 2.54 inches of precipitation in Julian; 2.49 in Birch Hill; 2.26 at Henshaw Dam; 2.24 in the Palomar area; 2.08 on Volcan Mountain; 1.99 in Echo Dell; 1.77 at Miramar Lake; 1.68 in Descanso; 1.67 in Oak Grove; 1.64 in Borrego Springs; 1.47 in Poway; 1.38 in Oceanside, Flinn Springs and San Diego Country Estates; 1.37 at Ramona Airport; 1.36 in Alpine; 1.31 in Ranchita; 1.2 in Valley Center and Warner Springs; and 1.1 in Kearny Mesa.

Lesser daylong moisture tallies across the county included 0.99 of an inch at Dulzura Summit and in Rancho Bernardo; 0.88 at San Marcos Landfill; 0.81 in Encinitas; 0.73 in Mission Valley; 0.72 on Mount Laguna; 0.69 in Fallbrook; 0.61 at Lindbergh Field; 0.52 in Campo; 0.48 in Ocotillo Wells; 0.4 at Montgomery Field; 0.21 at Brown Field; 0.2 in Point Loma; and 0.06 in Solana Beach.

Since the arrival of the spell of wet weather on Sunday, the highest amount of local precipitation has fallen in Birch Hill, which has gotten a total of 4.44 inches; Palomar Mountain, 4.33 inches; Mount Woodson, 4.18; and Henshaw Dam, 4.16, the NWS reported.

6:00 p.m. – The flash flood warning will remain in effect until 6:15 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. 

Additional showers were expected to develop last Wednesday evening.

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3:55 p.m. – An airport weather warning was extended for San Diego’s Lindbergh Field for cloud to ground lightning and strong winds through 5:30 p.m.

For a list of locations to pickup sandbags, click HERE. 

3:30 p.m. – Tornado warning canceled for Escondido.

3:07 p.m. – The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Escondido until 3:45 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. 

3:00 p.m. – The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning Wednesday afternoon for Southwestern San Diego County.

Locations impacted include: Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, Encinitas, National City, La Mesa, Poway, Coronado, Del Mar and North Park. 

Severe thunderstorms produce high winds, destructive hail, deadly lightning and heavy rainfall. 

According to the NWS, move to an interior room on the lowest flood of your home or business. Do not drive into areas where water covers the road. 

When heavy rains arrive:

  • Leave early if your property is in a flood zone. Water levels can rise fast once storms start. Do not hesitate to move if you see rising water.
  • Follow all instructions issued by public safety personnel.
  • Report flooding to the City’s emergency dispatch center at (619) 527-7500.
  • Drive carefully! Slow down and do not drive through standing water.

Sandbags are available at these locations: 

Numbers to call in case of emergency: 

Storm Watch Division: (619)-235-1000
Dispatch Center: (619)-527-7500
California Highway Patrol: (800)-835-5247
City of San Diego Police Department: (619)-531-2000 or (858)-484-3154
Office of Homeland Security: (619)-533-6760
Fire-Rescue: (619)-533-4300
American Red Cross: (858)-309-1200
Santee Sheriff Department: (858)-565-5200
Santee Fire Department: (619)-441-1621
SD County Poison Control: (800)-222-1222
Center For Disease Control: (800)-232-4636
SDG&E: (800)-611-7343

2:35 p.m. – Current road closures around San Diego:

  • Carmel Mtn Rd. And Sorrento Valley
  • 1500 Hotel Circle South
  • 1200 Fashion Valley Rd.
  • Cam de la Reina closed btwn Cam de la Siesta & Avenida del Rio
  • Alvarado Ct/Alvarado Rd.
  • W. Maple St./ State St.
  • Avenida Del Rio
  • Fashion Valley Rd. between Hotel Cr. North & Riverwalk Dr.
  • La Media Rd./ Airway Rd.
  • Hollister St./ Monument Rd. 
  • Aldine Dr./ Fairmount Ave.
  • 4100 41st Street
  • Sorrento Valley Rd. at Carmel Mtn. Rd.
  • Roselle Rd./ Estuary Wy.
  • Miramar Rd between Camino Ruiz and Cabot drive
  • Mission Center Rd. is closed in both directions between Hazard Center Dr. and Camino De La Reina

Areas to avoid:

  • Activity Rd. and Black Mtn. Rd.
  • East alley of 4100 41st St.
  • Monument Rd. at Hollister St.

2:13 p.m. – An Airport Weather Warning is in effect for San Diego Lindbergh Field for cloud-to-ground lightning from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.3

In the mountains, periods of heavy snowfall above 4000 feet will occur through late Thursday night. 

In Carlsbad and northwest San Diego high winds have produced the ability to damage structures. 

8:43 a.m. – A flash flood warning has been issued for all coastal, valley and mountain areas below 4500 feet Wednesday. The warning will last through Thursday morning. Cautionary preparations should be taken to avoid serious damage to structures. 

El Nino information, including sandbag pickup locations, can be found at: http://readysandiego.org/el-nino/.

6:26 a.m. – Rain is expected to alternate between light and heavy in San Diego County Wednesday as the latest in a week full of storm systems moves across Southern California.

Wednesday morning in San Diego County there is a chance of showers, with rain likely and a possibility of a thunderstorm after 10 a.m. The storm could produce small hail and gusty winds, and a wind advisory in effect in the county from noon to 6 p.m. today, according to the National Weather Service.

More showers and a possible thunderstorm are predicted for Thursday, with daytime temps in the high 50s. A flash flood watch continues for the coastal areas through 4 a.m. Thursday, and a high surf advisory continues through 10 p.m. Friday.

Winds of between 15 and 25 mph are expected along the coast, with gusts up to 40 mph in the afternoon. In the mountains, a winter storm warning is in effect above 4,500 feet from 2 p.m. today until 4 a.m. Friday.

Winds between 25 and 35 mph are expected, with gusts up to 50 mph. Travelers are advised to check weather reports, prepare for inclement weather and use extreme caution.

Heavy snowfall is expected this afternoon into Thursday morning, followed by light to moderate snowfall through Thursday night. Through Friday, between 6 and 12 inches of snow is expected to accumulate between 4,500 and 5,500 feet, between 1 and 2 feet between 5,500 and 7,000 feet, and from 2 to 4 feet above 7,000 feet, the NWS said.

Forecasters say mostly sunny skies should return on Monday, with temperatures rising back into the low 60s.

Tuesday saw enormous amounts of rain fall all over San Diego, with records of 1.65 inches in San Diego and 2.33 inches in Ramona being set. Previously, the record was .99 inches in one day in 1992 and 1.72 inches in one day in 2008.

Flooding hotlines are available for residents to call when they spot dangerous amounts of water gathering. The numbers are: 

Storm Watch Division: 619-235-1000
Dispatch Center: 619-527-7500

Categories: KUSI