San Diego County was split between hot, muggy weather and potentially dangerous flash flooding and thunderstorms Thursday, the third day of similar temperatures.
Thursday afternoon, much of East San Diego County was under a flash flood warning. National Weather Service (NWS) warnings for the northeastern part of the county and southeastern part of the county have since expired.
Thunderstorms brought heavy rain across the warned area. The warning indicates that flash flooding may begin shortly. Residents are advised to seek higher ground.
Affected areas include:
- Warner Springs
- Highway South 22 between Ranchita and Borrego Springs
- Ranchita, Borrego Palm Canyon
- Highway South 2 between Highway 79 and Highway 78
- Highway 79 between Santa Ysabel and Warner Springs
- Los Coyotes Indian Reservation
- Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation
- I-8 between Pine Valley and Boulevard
- I-8 between Boulevard and Imperial County Line
- Highway 78 between S2 and Borrego Springs Rd
- Mount Laguna
- Highway 78 between Borrego Springs Rd and Ocotillo Wells
- Surrounding areas
Never attempt to cross a flooded roadway.
An urban and small stream flooding advisory was issued until 3:45 p.m. for Highway 78, I-8 between Pine Valley and Boulevard and other communities in the East County. Flooding closed Highway 78 around 1:30 p.m., about two miles east of Yaqui Pass Road in eastern San Diego County, according to the National Weather Service.
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, .01 inches of rain fell in Sutherland Dam, .03 inches in the Palomar Observatory, .01 in Potrero, 0.67 in Tierra del Sol, .19 in Ranchita, .09 in Borrego Springs and 1.43 in Mount Laguna, according to a 24-hour precipitation map from the National Weather Service.
The hot and muggy weather is not just affecting East County; it is affecting San Diegans across the County.
This past week, San Diego has been feeling more humidity than it has in recent memory. Humidity levels will be almost double in East County by the end of the day.
However, relief is on the way. Drier air will begin to move into the region Friday, making thunderstorms much less likely and mostly limited to the higher mountains.
#Flooding over Hwy 78 around 130 PM, 2 miles east of Yaqui Pass Road (far E San Diego County). pic.twitter.com/pKJTfuEzo4
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) August 4, 2017
