Thursday storm: Road closures, flood advisories and wintery conditions

KUSI Newsroom,
Posted:

KUSI Newsroom

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The last two days have proved to be too much water for several areas.

We’re constantly being updated on our roadways as crews work to clear drains and wait for water to recede, but we’re still seeing widespread closures throughout the entire county.

To report any new flooded areas, potholes, sinkholes or mudslides, call the Emergency Dispatch Center at 619-527-7500 or the 24-hour county line at 858-565-5262.

Latest weather updates:

4:00 p.m. – An updated list of road closures:

Mission Valley/Mission Valley East Area

  • Camino Del Rio North and Ward St.
  • 5300-5400 Mission Center Road
  • 10700 San Diego Mission Road

Sorrento Valley

  • 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd.
  • 10200 Sorrento Valley Road
  • Roselle Street/Estuary Way

Midway District

  • Midway Drive between Barnett Avenue and Rosecrans Street

Fashion Valley/Mission Valley area

  • Cam De La Reina between Cam De La Siesta & Avenida Del Rd.
  • Fashion Valley Rd. Between Hotel Cr North and Riverwalk Dr.

Otay Mesa

  • La Media Rd/Sunset Ave.

Scripps Ranch Southwest

  • Scripps Lake Drive from Brooktree Terrace to Mesa Madera Dr.

Westview/Mercy

  • Black Mountain Road and Mercy Road

Colina Del Sol

  • 5200 Trojan Avenue

Rolando

  • 6600 University Avenue

Talmadge

  • Aldine Dr./Fairmount Ave.

Teralta West

  • 4100 41st Street (east Alley)

Torrey Hills

  • Sorrento Valley Rd at Carmel Mtn. Rd.

Barrio Logan

  • 2800 National Avenue 

County road closures:

  • San Marcos: Poinsettia due to flooding. 
  • Spring Valley: Quarry Rd Dip due to flooding.
  • Jamacha: Willow Glen Dr. from Hillsdale to the driveway of Robertson’s Rock due to a rock/mudslide. 
  • Fallbrook:
  • Main Street from Ammunition to Fallbrook Street due to a water main break. 
  • Aviation from S. Mission to Old Stage due to a water main break.
  • Ramona:
  • Hunter Street between Kelly and Raymond Ave. due to flooding
  • B Street from 10th and at 11 due to flooding. 
  • Magnolia dip between SR 78 and 500 feet north of Magnolia dip due to flooding.
  • Etchiverry Rd at both sides of San Diego Avenue due to flooding.
  • Ramona Street from Raymond Avenue to H Street due to flooding

Summary of snow related advisories:

  • Julian: Sunrise Hwy Chains are required. 
  • Palomar Mountain: Chains are required.

9:30 a.m. – The latest in a weeklong series of El Nino-driven storms continued to soak San Diego County early Thursday and could wreak havoc on the morning commute, but is expected to begin to ease up Thursday afternoon.

Around 4 a.m. Thursday, Doppler radar picked up a line of strong thunderstorms from near Solana Beach east to Poway, Ramona and the San Diego Country Estates. Weather service meteorologists said they were moving east at 35 miles per hour.

Forecasters said cloud-to-ground lightning, half-inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph would be possible during the latest storm and could affect Alpine, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, Julian, Mount Laguna, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, Ramona and Rancho Santa Fe.

Road closures

Barrio Logan:
– 2800 National Avenue.

Colina Del Sol:
– 5200 Trojan Avenue.

Del Mar:
– East side of Camino Del Mar.

Fashion Valley/Mission Valley Area:
– Avenida Del Rio
– 1500 Hotel Circle South
– Camino De La Reina between Camino De La Siesta and Avenida Del Rio.
– Fashion Valley Road between Hotel Circle North and Riverwalk Drive.

Kearny Mesa:
– Convoy Street at Raytheon Road.

Midway District
– Midway Drive between Barnett Avenue and Rosecrans Street. 

Miramar:
– Miramar Road between Camino Ruiz and Cabot Drive.

Mission Valley/Mission Valley East Area:
– Mission Center Road between Hazard Center and Camino De La Reina
– 4500 Mission Gorge Place.
– Camino Del Rio North and Ward St. 
– 5300-5400 Mission Center Road 
– 10700 San Diego Mission Road

Otay Mesa:
– La Media Road/Airway Road.

Rolando:
– 6600 University Avenue

Scripps Ranch:
– Scripps Lake Drive from Brooktree Terrace to Mesa Madera Drive.

Sorrento Valley:
– 5600 Caroll Canyon Road.
– 10200 Sorrento Valley Road.  
– Roselle Street. 
– Estuary Way.

Talmadge
– Aldine Drive/Fairmount Avenue.

Teralta West
– 4100 41st Street (East Alley).

Tijuana River Valley:
– Hollister Street/Monument Road.
– Saturn Blvd./Saturn Way

Torrey Hills
– Sorrento Valley Road at Carmel Mountain Road.

Westview/Mercy: 
– Black Mountain Road and Mercy Road. 

Huge rain numbers

In a four-day period ending at 4:05 a.m. Thursday, automated gauges collected:

  • 5.72 inches of rain on Mt. Woodson;
  • 4.85 inches on Palomar Mountain;
  • 4.69 inches in Julian;
  • 4.05 inches in Ramona;
  • 3.84 inches in Poway;
  • 3.79 inches in Oak Grove;
  • 3.18 inches in Descanso;
  • 3.06 inches in Alpine; and
  • 3.05 inches in Rancho Bernardo.
  • Numerous other locales reported less than 3 inches of rain, including Valley Center with 2.81 inches of rain, Santee with 2.76 inches, Lindbergh Field with 2.44 inches and 1.91 inches in Borrego Springs, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service.

Warnings, watches and advisories

A National Weather Service winter storm watch for the mountains will remain in effect until 4 a.m. Friday.

A flood warning for the San Diego River in Mission Valley will expire this morning, as will a flash flood warning for the beaches, valleys and mountains.

Flooding may also be possible along the coast, as a large northwest swell peaks with occasional surf sets of 10 to 14 feet. A high surf warning is set to end at 10 p.m. Friday.

Effects of the ‘storm series’

Forecasters said rain showers and isolated thunderstorms would continue to deluge some locales as the storm moved through the region this morning , but would become "gradually less numerous and less intense” this afternoon through Friday.

Forecasters said that although the rainfall today would be more localized and brief than Tuesday and Wednesday, local flash flooding would be possible through late morning from the coast to the mountains as saturated soils have increased the potential for excess runoff.

"This kind of surf is capable of damaging coastal structures as well as producing coastal flooding and beach erosion,” according to the weather service.

"Periods of heavy rain will continue a threat of flash flooding, mud slides and debris flows to recently burned areas, as well as steep and/or unstable terrain below the snow level,” according to the weather service. "Urban flooding, and minor flooding of small streams and low water crossings will also be possible.”

Wintery mountain conditions

The NWS said 6 to 12 inches of snow could accumulate in the mountains lower than 5,500 feet between Wednesday night and Friday morning, as could amounts of more than a foot in higher areas.

Southwest winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 45 mph will also be possible through tonight. But the heavy mountain snow is soon expected to lighten up, according to the NWS.

Forecasters said snow would continue Friday, when showers should be scattered and light. Blowing snow and fog could lead to hazardous driving conditions.

Travelers on mountain roads were advised to carry tire chains, extra clothing and food. More rain will be possible over the weekend and again next week, according to the weather service.

School closures

Classes in the Mountain Empire Unified School District in Pine Valley were cancelled due to snow.

Dehesa Elementary School in El Cajon has cancelled classes for the week due to flooding.

Important numbers

Police urge residents to not call 911 to report flooding but instead call these lines for non-emergency storm-related issues:

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

Categories: KUSI