FLOOD WATCH FOR MUCH OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY: The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory expected to last until 7:48 p.m. on Monday.
NWS said some of Southwest California, including San Diego County, should expect urban and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall.
Minor flooding may also occur in low-lying areas and areas with poor drainage. According to NWS, There may also be water over roadways and ponding of water.
The areas where flooding may occur include:
- Chula Vista
- Oceanside
- Carlsbad
- El Cajon
- Vista
- Encinitas
- National City
- La Mesa
- Poway
- Imperial Beach
The NWS also issued a flood watch Monday afternoon for San Diego County, with the alert slated to run until 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Heavy rainfall is forecasted to douse the county into Tuesday, per the NWS, and with the rain is the expectation of potential flooding.
Areas where flooding might occur:
- Borrego Springs
- Carlsbad
- Chula Vista
- El Cajon
- Encinitas
- Escondido
- Julian
- La Mesa
- National City
- Oceanside
- Pine Valley
- Poway
- San Diego
- San Marcos
- Santee
- Vista
Residents in those communities are urged to make proper preparations.
Click here for latest National Weather Service alerts for San Diego County
INCLEMENT WEATHER SHELTER PROGRAM ACTIVATED: The City of San Diego's Inclement Weather Shelter beds were made available Monday with weather conditions expected to take a turn in the afternoon and into Tuesday.
Click here for shelter locations
SOME CITY ROAD CLOSURES TAKE EFFECT: San Diego Police announced several road closures due to the potential of flooding. This is the list as of 3 p.m. Monday:
- 7400 Hazard Center Drive
- 1900 - 2000 Monument Road (due to flooding)
- 2800 Hollister Street
- 3800 Estuary Way
- 11100 Roselle Street
- San Pasqual Valley Road at Ysabel Creek Road
- State Route 78 at San Pasqual Valley Road (sinkhole)
- Sorrento Valley Road at Carmel Mountain Road
The city is posting road closure updates at https://www.sandiego.gov/storm/road-closures.
EVACUATION WARNING FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF SAN DIEGO: City of San Diego officials said residents in several flood-prone neighborhoods were advised to prepare for a possible evacuation with another strong storm bearing down on the region this week.
Per officials, those living in the following neighborhoods would receive an evacuation warning text message:
- Encanto
- Mission Valley
- Mountain View
- San Ysidro
- Sorrento Valley
- Southcrest
For those under the evacuation warning, a temporary shelter at the Municipal Gym in Balboa Park will be open throughout the week.
Residents under the evacuation warning can request a ride to a temporary shelter at no cost from the United Taxi Workers. To schedule a ride, call 619-280-4444 or download the Ride United (Passenger) application on the phone.
The city has placed all important storm-related resources, including potential flood zones and road closures at https://www.sandiego.gov/storm.
EB SR-78 El Camino Real on-ramp, all lanes closed due to storm. pic.twitter.com/QPHBmZulhK
— Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) February 5, 2024
More rain is in the forecast for Monday-Tuesday. Stay off the roads if you can. If you must drive, please be safe:⬇️ speed.⬆️ following distance.*When wipers are on, headlights should be on.*Obey signage and road closures. #SafetyFirst pic.twitter.com/ZhH4pm1vGj
— SDFD (@SDFD) February 5, 2024
FLOOD ADVISORY IN NORTH COUNTY: With heavy rain making its way down from Orange County, the National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for several parts of the North County Monday morning.
The NWS said these areas will likely experience flooding due to heavy rainfall in the forecast:
- Camp Pendleton
- Carlsbad
- Fallbrook
- Oceanside
- Vista
Residents in those areas are urged to look out for rising water on roadways and prepare for possible flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
The advisory was issued just before 4 a.m. Monday and was expected to run through 7:54 a.m.
Click here for latest National Weather Service alerts for San Diego County
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Another powerful storm arrived in Southern California with at least three straight days of rain in the forecast for San Diego County, and authorities warning of potentially dangerous flooding Monday.
The storm moved in Sunday afternoon with widespread heavy rain and mountain snow expected Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight counties in the state Sunday, including San Diego County. The proclamation includes provisions authorizing a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage.
The other counties included were Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
A flood watch will be in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday, which includes San Diego and the county coastal cities of Carlsbad, Vista, San Diego, Escondido, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Poway, Encinitas, Borrego Springs, Santee, Julian, Oceanside, Pine Valley, San Marcos, National City and La Mesa.
Excessive run-off could result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks and flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas, the NWS reported.
A wind advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Monday, and will include the cities of Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Chula Vista, National City and San Diego.
Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs and palm fronds could be blown down and a few power outages may result, with southeast winds from 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 35 mph in some parts of the county, weather officials said.
A high-surf advisory will also go into effect from 10 p.m. Sunday until 10 p.m. Monday, with large, breaking waves from 6 to 8 feet and sets up to 10 feet. Surf will be highest on west-facing beaches in San Diego County, according to the NWS.
In addition, a small craft advisory was in effect until 10 p.m. Monday for coastal waters from San Mateo Point to the Mexican Border and out to 30 nautical miles, extending 30 to 60 nautical miles out including San Clemente Island.
Forecasters said south to southeast winds will increase Monday, with gusts from 25 to 30 knots, along with seas building from 10 to 12 feet and possibly locally up to 15 feet. Strong winds and choppy/steep seas will create hazardous boating conditions through much of Monday.
Officials said dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion could occur. Forecasters predict that high-surf will likely decrease late Monday night and Tuesday, with periods of moderate to heavy rain expected Sunday night through Tuesday. A chance of thunderstorms into Tuesday is likely.
San Diego County emergency services and public works road crews advised the public to stay alert and take precautions on the roads and offered the following tips:
-- Avoid driving through deep water
-- Avoid oversteering or stomping on the brakes if you start to hydroplane or skid
-- Avoid texting or using a hand-held cell phone when driving
-- Slow down to avoid getting into an accident
-- Turn on your headlights to see better
-- Try to drive toward the middle lanes as water tends to gather in outside lanes
-- Defog your windows for better visibility
-- Never drive through a flooded roadway
-- Give the cars in front of you extra distance
-- Watch out for public works crews and equipment
Partly cloudy and rainy conditions are expected in the mountains until mid-week, with highs in the low 50s. Cloudy and wet conditions are expected in the deserts all week, with highs reaching the upper 50s and low 60s, according to the National Weather Service.
Along the coast, partly cloudy and heavy wet conditions are expected this week, with daytime temperatures hitting the low 60s. Inland valley areas are expected to be hit with showers through Friday, with highs reaching the mid- 50s to low 60s.
Due to potential harsh weather conditions, an emergency shelter at 2111 Pan American Plaza is open to the public and can be reached at 619-525- 8262. Services at the shelter will include places for displaced people to stay, meals, snacks, crisis counseling, help replacing medication and pet support from the San Diego Humane Society.
Alert San Diego has provided residents with all other information regarding flooding and can be found at the following links:
- Flood preparation information;
- Emergency information;
- Recovery information including cleanup, medicine and additional helpful resources
- Residents can also text HELP to 98266 to get safety information.
The United Taxi Workers of San Diego is helping impacted residents get to the temporary shelter at no charge. To schedule a ride customers can call 619-280-4444 or use the "Ride United" passenger application. Residents seeking services should provide a pick-up location and select "Balboa Park Municipal Gym" or "Mountain View Community Recreation Center" as their drop- off location, county officials said.
A temporary homeless shelter has been set up at the Balboa Park Activity Center at 16th Street and Newton Bridge Shelter.
The Department of Public Works is picking up flood-damaged debris and items from homes in the unincorporated communities. Pickup in unincorporated areas can be reached at 858-495-5700. Additional storm recovery resources can be reached by dialing 211.
The county advised against putting debris near curbs during rainy weather, where it can wash away and cause a hazard.
This week's storm comes after a spate of historically heavy downpours that left roadways, commercial districts and residential neighborhoods underwater across the region. The wettest day, Jan. 22, delivered the highest 24-hour rainfall amounts in San Diego since 1850, according to the NWS.
The inundation, which washed away many a parked car and heavily damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes, prompted the city and county of San Diego, along with Newsom, to declare states of emergency.
Since then, authorities have been taking steps, including monitoring tens of thousands of storm drains, to prevent more storm-driven destruction, Gloria said during a recent news briefing. He urged those who live or work in flood-prone areas to remain proactively vigilant as well.
"Now is not the time to remove your sandbags," the mayor said. "We can't predict Mother Nature. She's unpredictable.'
The city and the San Diego Housing Commission have opened a new 50- room shelter at a former hotel site in the Midway district to provide a refuge from those impact the recent storms.
"Providing shelter and support for our neighbors whose lives were upended by the storm is a top priority," City Council President Sean Elo- Rivera said. "These creative options were possible through collaboration between the city, county, the Housing Commission and state of California. The road ahead of us is long, but this quick and meaningful action shows that we can create creative housing solutions when we all work together."
The county's Assessor's Office, Public Health, Behavioral Health, Public Works and Department of Environmental Health and Quality will be at the City Assistance Center to provide services to those impacted by the storms.
Copyright 2024, City News Service, Inc.
