Commuters were being affected by flooded roadways hours after a December storm dumped inches of rain on San Diego County, forcing the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning.
The Metropolitan Transit System reported Friday morning that several bus routes would be detoured due to flooding in central San Diego.
Routes 1, 20 and 120 and the bus stops at Hotel Circle and Backman would be closed until further notice until flooding subsided, MTS said. Routes 6, 41 and 88 would be detoured.
Multiple rescues were reported on Coast Highway in Oceanside Thursday as pooling rainwater grew into a small, sidewalk-to-sidewalk river stretching several blocks and stopped cars in their tracks.
A small car first became disabled in the middle an intersection, but that didn't stop other drivers from trying to make it through.
Another car was seen near the side of the street and a crew with a life raft was helping the driver to safety. A low-sitting Corvette was also seen stopped in the roadway for several minutes.
The pool nearly swallowed a Volkswagen coupe. At one point, water was up to its door handles, CHP officers at the scene said.
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The cars remained where they were stopped, hazard lights flashing, waiting for the flooding to subside or a tow truck to take them away.
At one point, an SUV towing a surfer riding in the wake cruised down the road.
The city of Oceanside said Thursday night the following roads were closed:
- Vista Way at Coast Highway
- Cassidy at Coast Highway
- Vista Way and Valley Glen
- College and Vista Way
- Calle Montecito
Flooding was reported in several other areas of the county. At around 5:15 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning until 8:30 p.m. and said locations likely to flood include Chula Vista, El Cajon, National City, La Mesa, Poway, Imperial Beach, Ramona, Coronado, Alpine, and Mission Valley.
According to the CHP, the following highways experienced flooding but were not closed:
- State Route 94 at 30th Street in Golden Hill
- I-15/SR-94 interchange in South Park
- 28th Street on-ramp to northbound I-15 in South Park
- Westbound SR-78 at Melrose Way in Vista
- Westbound SR-78 at the I-15 connector in Oceanside
- Hacienda Drive at La Tortuga Drive in Vista
The Sheriff's Department said both directions of State Route 94 in Rancho Jamul were closed.
[G] Photos: Another Storm Sweeps San Diego
At the intersection of 19th Street and Commercial Avenue in Logan Heights, three cars were submerged in water and two drivers had to be rescued by firefighters.
A driver also had to be rescued from her inundated car in Lemon Grove.
The city of Coronado said 1st Street and A Avenue was flooded and said the intersection of Pomona Avenue, 10th Street and Glorietta was not closed but should be avoided.
Carlsbad police closed lanes of eastbound Carlsbad Village from Harding Street to I-5, and shut down Marron Road and Jefferson Street.
The city of San Marcos said Via Vera Cruz and Discovery Street were closed due to flooding, as well as Bent Avenue at San Marcos Boulevard and Discovery Street. Click here for closure updates in San Marcos.
In Alpine, the Via Viejas Dip was closed between Nido Aguila and Palo Danzanta, the county Department of Public Works said.
The city of Chula Vista warned drivers of extreme flooding on Bonita Road west of I-805, Main Street west of Melrose, and the intersection of Main Street and Third Avenue. On Friday, only one lane of Third Street and L Street remained closed.
Flooding was also reported in Vista and Fallbrook.
Check out NBC 7's live traffic map to see what highways you should avoid.
