While the boys in blue continue to enforce social distancing laws amid the coronavirus pandemic, this week, they have a friend in Mother Nature.
Mother Nature brewed up a storm that's delivered widespread showers to San Diego County and drenched many communities overnight. And the storm isn't over just yet.
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for all of Southern California, in effect from 11 a.m. Tuesday until at least 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The NWS said showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are expected throughout the county.
Over a 72-hour span leading up to 10 p.m. Tuesday, San DIego's coastline saw just under two inches of rain; 1.15 inches at the San Diego Airport and 1.93 inches in Carlsbad.
Santee, Poway, Escondido and Fallbrook all saw about two inches of rain, and a whopping four inches was recorded at the Palomar observatory. NBC 7 Meteorologist Dagmar Midcap said snow was unlikely overnight Tuesday, but said temperatures would drop low enough to provide a dusting at as low as 5,000 feet in elevation Wednesday night into Thursday
NBC 7 meteorologist Sheena Parveen said the storm system – which will stick around through Thursday – will also deliver snow in the mountains, in areas of elevation between 4,500 and 5,000 feet. Areas above 5,000 feet could see between 3 and 8 inches of snowfall.
The NWS tweeted photos of the snow in SoCal’s mountains Tuesday morning.
Parveen said scattered showers would last all of Tuesday and the heavier, widespread rain would hit overnight.
“That’s when the mountains will have the best chance of snowfall.”
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Additionally, through Thursday, Parveen said some parts of San Diego County could see 2 more inches of rain.
According to NBC 7’s First Alert Forecast, the slow-moving storm system is expected to clear out by Friday, leaving San Diego sunny and dry for the holiday weekend.
Parveen said Easter Sunday looks nice and dry, and perfect for those stay-at-home egg hunts with the kids.
Meanwhile, as the county continues life during the coronavirus pandemic, beaches, parks and other public open spaces throughout California remain closed to deter gatherings during the statewide stay at home order. The closures were implemented the week after the order was put in place in response to illegal gatherings up and down the coast. San Diego was no exception.
Unfortunately for all of us, illegal gatherings continue to be reported at beaches and other public spaces. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said Monday his city's police department was out over the weekend issuing citations to violators. County Sheriff Bill Gore said previously that his deputies have been out enforcing social distancing laws, and has on multiple occasions, warned people the maximum penalty for disobeying is a $1,000 fine or up to 6 months in jail.
Law enforcement leaders said enforcing these laws takes officers and deputies away from other issues and emergencies, so we should all benefit from a little bit of rain keeping San Diegans at home this week.
The storm arrived overnight Monday, dumping an inch of rain in Carlsbad, Oceanside, Encinitas and San Marcos by 9 p.m.
On a damp Monday night, Pacific Beach was empty.
And, in a month when officials said flattening the curve is critical, empty streets are a good thing.
