San Diego's mountains were topped with an inch of fresh snow while inland areas were drenched with up to 1.5 inches of rain on Monday from a powerful winter storm that would continue to sprinkle rain on the region for a few more days.
Pockets of light rain were falling across San Diego County Tuesday and would continue at least one more day before another storm system brings more heavy rainfall, like the widespread showers seen on Monday, according to NBC 7 Meteorologist Sheena Parveen.
The National Weather Service reported the storm's first day had brought significant rainfall to San Diego County. Julian received the most rain, topping more than 1.9 inches through 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Inland valleys like Ramona and Santee received roughly an inch of rain. Alpine, El Cajon and Poway reached over a half-inch of rain. Meanwhile, coastal areas were met with anywhere from a quarter-inch to half-inch of rain.
See more rainfall totals through 11 a.m. from the National Weather Service:
- Julian: 1.92 inches
- Palomar: 1.55 inches
- Mt. Laguna: 1.41 inches
- Ramona Airport: 1.07 inches
- Santee: 1.24 inches
- Descanso: 1.19 inches
- Escondido: .75 inches
- Alpine: .94 inches
- El Cajon: .61 inches
- Poway: .62 inches
- Kearny Mesa: .58 inches
- San Ysidro: .63 inches
- Chula Vista: .54 inches
- Fallbrook: .43 inches
Riverside's mountains received inches of fresh powder while in San Diego, Mount Laguna, with an elevation of 6,000 feet, recorded an inch of fresh snow.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday morning, Laguna Mountain Lodge said it was 38 degrees in the community, with light snow falling. There was no snow piling up on the ground just yet though.
As a safety precaution, anyone driving to the snow this week should put chains on their tires and check on the condition of the roads via the San Diego County Department of Public Works prior to making that road trip.
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San Diego started the week with powerful downpours that had the potential to spark flash floods.
While a San Diego Fire-Rescue swift water rescue team was at the ready during a flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service, no major incidents were reported.
The storm did flood roads in North County San Diego. One road, in particular, Country Club Drive, crosses over the Escondido Creek. By 4 p.m. Monday, the street was shut down from overflowing water.
“If you see water flowing across the road, don’t drive. Find another route,” said Captain Correy Cooper with the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department.
Residents in San Diego’s burn areas, like in Alpine following the West Fire in July 2018, braced for mudslides following the expected ongoing showers.
“You just have to prep for it, I mean – especially with like, the mudslides and things like that and the water just overflowing,” said Alpine resident Alfredo Zermeno.
Homeowners in the area have been placing straw wattles and sandbags around houses and at the top of hills to prevent water from washing away the delicate landscapes.
The county provided the straw wattles and the Alpine Fire Protection District provided the sandbags, all for free.
The current storm marks the fourth for San Diego since the new year began. Most recently, a storm brought more than a half-inch of rain over the weekend.
