San Diego County is experiencing significant rainfall and strong winds as the most powerful storm of the season sweep through the region. The storm, which began earlier this week, intensified on Thursday night, bringing heavy downpours and gusty conditions.
Rainfall rates reached between half an inch to three-quarters of an inch per hour, leading the National Weather Service to issue a flood watch for coastal, valley, and mountain areas from Thursday morning through early Friday. The heavy rain is causing slick road conditions, resulting in several accidents, including two incidents where semi-trucks jackknifed on local freeways.
By Thursday evening, the storm’s heaviest rainfall moved into northern San Diego County, affecting communities such as Oceanside, Carlsbad, and Vista. The downpour led to minor flooding in areas like Harmony Grove, where the Escondido Creek overflowed onto Country Club Drive, necessitating road closures.
The heaviest rain tapered off early Friday morning, scattered showers persisted throughout the day. Meteorologists forecast that conditions would improve by Friday night as the storm system moved out of the area.
In total, coastal regions received up to 2.5 inches of rain, valleys up to 3 inches, and mountain areas up to 4 inches. Notably, Palomar Mountain recorded over 3.5 inches of rainfall, while Lake Cuyamaca accumulated more than 2 inches. The storm also brought strong winds, with gusts reaching up to 75 mph in mountainous and desert regions.
