Dark Skies, Rain, Wind Arrive in San Diego

By Samantha Tatro, Elena Gomez and Steven Luke • •

NBC 7’s Jodi Kodesh takes a look at Doppler radar just before 8 a.m. Friday.

With a sky darkened by storm clouds, a new storm rolled into San Diego County Friday bringing with it high surf, rainfall and strong winds.

Through noon, San Diegans can expect one inch of rain inland, a half inch along the coast and two inches in the mountains, though if a thunderstorm pummels through, those totals might increase.

Waves will be seven to 10 feet high on Friday, with some sets up to 14 feet.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for San Diego County, specifically the burn areas where the Cocos Fire occurred in May. Flash flooding and debris flows are possible in and below those areas so residents are advised to be on alert.

Liberty Zabala, NBC 7
Excess water floods Bent Ave & Discover Street in San Marcos on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014.
NBC 7 Elena Gomez
A clogged storm drain closed all lanes but on on southbound Interstate 5 at La Costa FRiday. One Cal Trans worker said the water was up to his knees when he arrived.
NBC 7
Strong winds toppled the Christmas tree outside NBC 7's downtown studios.
NBC 7 Rory Devine
Not the best place to park Friday in Leucadia on Vulcan.
NBC 7 Vanessa Herrera
In Spring Valley, near the Swap Meet, drivers opted to turn around rather than go through this.
NBC 7 Nicole Gomez
City crews arrived to clear away a palm tree downed near 3rd Avenue and Pennsylvania.
NBC 7 Steven Luke
San Diego Lifeguards were called to SR 94 and Home Avenue where a man was spotted up to his neck in water in the flood channel. The search was called off an hour later when no victim was found.
NBC 7 Elena Gomez
On December 4, these images show the damage on Torrance Street in Mission Hills. Several cars were flooded by the backup from a clogged storm drain.
NBC 7
Several cars were flooded in the parking area outside the apartment complex on Torrance Street in Mission Hills.
NBC 7 Elena Gomez
Images of the damage on Torrance Street in Mission Hills. Several cars were flooded by the backup from a clogged storm drain.
NBC 7
One car owner moved a vehicle from the flooded garage live on NBC 7 News Today Thursday.
NBC 7 Elena Gomez
Images of the damage on Torrance Street in Mission Hills. Several cars were flooded by the backup from a clogged storm drain.
NBC 7 Elena Gomez
Cars were flooded outside an apartment complex in Mission Hills.
Gary Fletcher
NBC 7 user Gary Fletcher submitted video of flash flooding in the downtown area near State Route 163 around 3 a.m. Thursday. This still is from the video.
NBC 7 Nicole Gomez
Sandbags and a K rail helped protect homes that nearly burned in the Cocos Fire.
A woman was rescued from her submerged car at Hancock and Witherby Street early Thursday.
Debris covered State Route 163 and damaged several cars Thursday according to the CHP.
Greg Bledsoe NBC 7
Overnight rain melted the snow at Petco Park for this weekend's holiday event. Crews were back at it making snow again Thursday morning.
Chris Chan NBC 7
Mud and rocks in Qualcomm stadium parking lot early Thursday in this image captured by NBC 7's Chris Chan.
NBC 7
One of several SigAlerts issued on local highways - a big rig crash on northbound I-15 just south of I-8.
Chris Chan NBC 7
An image of a submerged vehicle found on Witherby Road near the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. San Diego lifeguards say nobody was inside.
NBC 7
People huddled under umbrellas while walking in Mission Beach Friday morning.
NBC 7
People huddled under umbrellas while walking in Mission Beach Friday morning.

Rainfall rates could reach one half inch per hour, enough to trigger flash floods or debris flows in and below recent burn areas. The wildfire burn area near San Marcos is one of the areas with the greatest risk during this time.

"The brunt will pass this morning, leaving spotty showers possible into this evening. There is a small chance of a morning shower early Saturday," said NBC 7 Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh.

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San Diego Lifeguards are on Alert Two, meaning all their staff will be hands-on ready to go if they are needed during the storm and they will have 19 personnel available for swift water rescue.

An airport weather warning was also in effect for San Diego International airport, known to locals as Lindbergh Field. Wind gusts of 30 knots or greater may occur until 10 a.m. Friday.

As of 7 a.m. only one flight was canceled with another flight experiencing delays. Travelers may check the status of their flights through the carrier or the airport's website.

Amtrak suspended service from Los Angeles north to the central coast city of San Luis Obispo Friday but continued to operate service between LA and San Diego.

LEGOLAND California closed its park and ice rink due to weather.

The storm system, dubbed the Pineapple Express, has already wreaked havoc on Northern California. Hurricane-force winds knocked out power to thousands and delayed commuters while rains soaked the region with some much-needed rain.

The National Weather Service says this storm could be the state's biggest in five years.

Lifeguards around the county spent Thursday preparing for the storm rolling into the city. That included raising berms to prevent flooding from high tide and high surf in addition to adding more sand to the coastline.

Lifeguards do not recommend swimming in the ocean for 72 hours after the storm because of runoff.

As San Diego looks toward another round of rain, some of the mess from last week’s storm is still being cleaned up. The mess is affecting one of San Diego’s most picturesque places: Glorietta Bay. As NBC 7’s Greg Bledsoe explains, the people cleaning it up are not the ones responsible for making it.

But Thursday, some experienced surfers were taking advantage of the swells before the storm. They hit the water with overhead sets, cracking boards, wowing crowds along the shore and calling the conditions "insane."

"Looks pretty good, maybe closing out a little bit, but we'll find some open shoulders out there," said surfer David Markgraff.

However, students who take surfing as a P.E. class weren't allowed in the water for safety reasons.

NBC 7’s Elena Gomez reports live from Ocean Beach on the latest preparations for the storm prepared to hit San Diego Friday.

In teams of two, lifeguards used the waves to practice in boats specifically designed for big surf rescues.

"The big trick is you want to keep the boat straight on into the surf. You want to watch as it breaks and hit straight on with a lot of power," said Pat Vergne, the Del Mar lifeguard chief.

He is hoping they won't need them as the storm picks up speed.

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