Powerful Rain Storm Pops Up in San Diego's East County
A heavy downpour suddenly appeared with winds that knocked over trees and caused other damage
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East County residents are cleaning up after a microburst sent downpours and strong winds ripping through the area. NBC 7’s Steven Luke reports on Sept. 16, 2014.
A sudden thunderstorm brought powerful winds and intense rain to San Diego's East County Tuesday afternoon.
“All of a sudden you couldn’t even see the parking lot because the wind and the rain were pure white just coming down," said Debbie Barrett, who was at a Rancho San Diego shopping center when the storm hit. "Everything in the front was flying around. Trees were falling."
Fallen trees crushed cars, damaged buildings and blocked roads.
“Everything was just going sideways. I saw some of the dead branches starting to blow off and the next thing I know, the whole tree is going over," Dan Barber said.
NBC 7 meteorologist Dagmar Midcap said the sideways winds were caused by a microburst.
Mookie Cunningham
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundred of pounds of branches onto cars below on Sept. 16, 2014. The rain is a result of a surprise storm that popped up in San Diego.
Kit Corry
A lightning strike in the Pacific Beach area set two palm trees ablaze on Sept. 16, 2014.
A downed palm tree scraped vehicles in University Heights on Sept. 16, 2014.
A palm tree created headaches in University Heights when it tipped over on Sept. 16, 2014.
Mookie Cunningham
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundred of pounds of branches onto cars below.
Lightning shot through the sky above downtown San Diego on Sept. 16, 2014.
Jassem Alqattan
Palm trees with their shallow roots took a bad beating during the storm.
Eric Martinez
Viewer Eric Martinez said signs were blown over in Hillcrest near Park Blvd. and University Ave.
Mookie Cunningham
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundred of pounds of branches onto cars below.
ashley aceto
This video showing a tree damaging three cars on Village Glen Drive in Serra Mesa is just one of many received from NBC 7 users.
Daniel Wu
CA 163N just south of the I-8 Accident happened at 5:40pm. I'm the driver of the Blue Nissan Leaf that was crushed by the tree.
Melinda Pajak
Storm pics University Heights-tree on house Tree down at Morley Field near the tennis center. House hit by downed tree at Delaware and Madison in University Heights. Car under tree also on Delaware. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak University Heights resident
Erin Nations
NBC SD User Submission -- Application: NBC SD Version: 3.3.6.0 (b3227f9b) Edition: en-US-nbcsandieg Ref: bwnhlhpq Model: iPhone System Version: 7.1.1
Kimberly Allard
Enjoying the rain Photo of my son enjoying the first of the raindrops from yesterday's storm right after I picked him up from school in Tierrasanta. This was about 10 minutes before the deluge started and lightning struck just down the street.
Doug
Trees down at FV mall
Laura
Murphy Canyon Rd Last night
Laura
Murphy Canyon Rd Last night
Mike Atkinson
Storm pix I was on the 11 o’clock show a couple weeks ago for the Plumeria Festival. Our plumeria growing area is only about a mile from where all those trees went down in Rancho San Diego. That microburst came through our property as well. It uprooted one of my plumeria trees, cut another one in half, and broke up one of my greenhouses into pieces…
Doug
Bloomingdales roof damage at FV mall
Chris Walkenford Sr
Tornado Picture of Tornado in Santee at about 5:30pm
Amyt Dahiya
Branches littered the road in North Park as the storm moved through on Sept. 16, 2014.
Rosalyn
Lightning strike Tree in front of Von's on 30th and Howard
Steve Sund
Storm cloud Storm cloud 9/16/2014
Melinda Pajak
Storm pics University Heights-tree on house Tree down at Morley Field near the tennis center. House hit by downed tree at Delaware and Madison in University Heights. Car under tree also on Delaware. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak University Heights resident
Zrenda
Caught in the moment Bipolar
San Diego Ruaya's
My Weather Story -- Application: NBC SD Version: 3.3.6.0 (b3227f9b) Edition: en-US-nbcsandieg Ref: dwei27zo28husewdbzoklj Model: iPhone System Version: 7.1.2
Ted Donovan
Sunset from Mt Helix Looking west to Pt. Loma. Sunset after the storm.
Melinda Pajak
More storm pics Morley Field right before the storm hit. It was 97 degrees and then plummeted to 84 when the rain hit. The last picture is at the end of Madison Ave in University Heights ( west end) where a tree took down half the electrical pole and left it in the middle of the street. No one could get to their condos and the power went out. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak A University Heights resident
Melinda Pajak
More storm pics Morley Field right before the storm hit. It was 97 degrees and then plummeted to 84 when the rain hit. The last picture is at the end of Madison Ave in University Heights ( west end) where a tree took down half the electrical pole and left it in the middle of the street. No one could get to their condos and the power went out. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak A University Heights resident
Melinda Pajak
Storm pics University Heights-tree on house Tree down at Morley Field near the tennis center. House hit by downed tree at Delaware and Madison in University Heights. Car under tree also on Delaware. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak University Heights resident
Chuck Pietz
Lightning Strikes the San Diego Skyline Lightning striking the San Diego sky line at 5:30pm Tuesday afternoon September 16th. Taken from the Coronado Ferry landing. I didn't actually see it when I took the picture, so it was quite a surprise when I was reviewing my shots.
Mariana Gracia
Traffic had to avoid the Texas Street off-ramp from I-8 east when a tree blocked it on Sept. 16, 2014.
Ashley Mullins
Camino de la Reina needed traffic control as broken trees fell into the road on Sept. 16, 2014.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Darlene Ames
A Whale of a Storm taken from north of the 8 area of Alpine, looking SW at the thunderstorm over Rancho earlier today.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Mark Sackett
Branches covered a road in San Diego after powerful winds moved through the area on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Two vehicles were the unfortunate victims of a fallen branch.
Facebook user Sonia and Danny
Makena Diaz
A soaking came to Spring Valley on Sept. 16, 2014.
Shawn Dennison
Rancho San Diego saw an enormous downpouring of rain and heavy winds on Sept. 16, 2014.
Sammie Swift
Rains swept over East County roads on Sept. 16, 2014. This is near the corner of Jamacha Blvd. and SR-94
Sammie Swift
Ominous storm clouds formed unexpectedly over East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Ann
Rain poured down in Mt. Helix, as viewer Ann showed in a video on Sept. 16, 2014.
Traci Lopez-Bosworth
Spring Valley rain.
El Cajon storm.
Debbi Eggleston
El Cajon storm
Karen Rutherford
David Alonso
A branch flew onto the top of a car on Sept. 16, 2014.
Brian Carmody
Winds whipped around pouring rain in East County.
Geli Diaz
Rose Campa
Anna Dioguardi
Azucena Dixon
Gabriela Morales
Jon Styles
Tami Henzie
William Vassos
Brent Grunander
San Diego Storm 9/16 Mission Valley area. Rio San Diego Dr. Club River Run Apartments
CC Borrelli
Twin bow Double rainbow over San Marcos @ about 4:30pm
Liz Walker
Wind and rain in rancho San Diego Back yard damage
Linda
Fashion valley - Bloomingdales
Tiffany Constantinovici
Fallen tree in driveway in El Cajon My parents case home today to this tree In their driveway. They live I El Cajon.
George chapman
tree fell on my moms house in terasanta canto valisques. no serious damage scared the out of mom
NBC SD User Submission 4th and Robinson in hillcrest -- Application: NBC SD Version: 3.3.6.0 (b3227f9b) Edition: en-US-nbcsandieg Ref: hflasxbs4imw7sw8ypz9z Model: iPhone System Version: 7.1.2
Roman
Storm pics / Mission valley
ashley aceto
serra mesa trees down on village glen dr village glen dr 3 cars damaged
Brittany Hernandez
Lightning shot Murrieta, ca Thank you, Brittany
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Kit Corry
Residents rushed to the fiery trees with fire extinguishers in hand to put out the flames.
"A microburst happens when the rain cools the atmosphere and the weight of the storm begins to collapse. That air has to go somewhere when it hits the ground. Those wind bursts go sideways,” Midcap said.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Flash Flood Warning for northern San Diego County in the area around Borrego Springs until 7 p.m. Get severe weather alerts here
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning expired at 3:30 p.m. NBC 7's Doppler Radar showed the storm cell ranging from Encanto to Harbison Canyon around 1:30 p.m. The storm had mostly moved out of San Diego County and into Temecula and Murrieta when the warning was issued around 2:30 p.m.
No injuries have been reported.
This video was submitted to isee@nbcsandfiego.com. “This is Rancho San Diego just after 1:00. Crazy!” – Shawn Dennison
Rancho San Diego seemed to be hit hardest by the storm. Trees and debris littered the area around Avocado Boulevard.
Avocado Boulevard and Call Verde were closed for cleanup. Traffic was at a standstill on State Routes 125 and 94.
