Heavy rainfall hit the county overnight as another Pacific storm hit the region, but showers are expected to end by Wednesday evening followed by dry weather into the weekend.
Light rain arrived in the region Monday and continued Tuesday morning, particularly in North County where about a half-inch to .75 inches of rain had fallen before the evening commute.
The brunt of the storm hit overnight with heavier and more widespread rain. The southern half of San Diego County had the lowest rain totals compared to Orange County and other areas to our north, according to the National Weather Service.
By 9 p.m. Tuesday, the San Diego airport reported 0.40 inches of rain and Chula Vista had received 0.22 inches.
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Dry weather will follow into the weekend where there will be a warming trend through Friday with 5 degrees above average as the next chance for rain arrives Sunday into Monday.
Local
Flood watch
In anticipation of the storm, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Monday through 10 a.m. Wednesday for the coast, inland valleys and mountains. Thunderstorms are also possible.
Through Wednesday, portions of the county could see rain totals anywhere from a half-inch to an 1.5 inches in all areas except the desert. Portions of North County San Diego, which will be hardest hit, could see over one inch, Parveen said.
Preparations
The city of San Diego was preparing for the storm with a crew cleaning up roadways and flood channels from debris. The city encouraged residents to take advantage of 10 free empty sandbags available at three locations starting Tuesday.
Where to get sandbags in San Diego
- Encanto Recreation Center – 6508 Wunderlin Ave., San Diego, CA 92114
- Mountain View Community Center – 641 S. Boundary St., San Diego, CA 92113
- Southcrest Recreation Center – 4149 Newton St., San Diego, CA 92113
Residents can report storm-related issues by calling Public Works Dispatch at 619-527-7500.
Other cities and the county of San Diego were also offering sand and sandbags at various locations. For a list, click here.
Extra beds were made available for San Diegans experiencing homelessness amid the rainy conditions. The Inclement Weather Shelter Program made beds available at Father Joe's Villages, the Living Water Church of the Nazarene and the San Diego Rescue Mission.
More weather conditions
Some snow could also fall in our mountains at 6,000 feet elevation or above, like Palomar Mountain, by Wednesday, forecasters said, but it was not likely to be much.
What's next?
The storm is expected to move out of the region by Thursday and San Diego will get a brief break from the rain until another storm system is expected to move in Sunday night.
Nearly 9 inches of rain have fallen so far this water year, which begins on Oct. 1, according to readings from the San Diego International Airport. In a typical water year, San Diego receives on average 9.79 inches of rain a year.
