By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2013 (Borrego) --A flash flood watch has been elevated to a flash flood warning today for north and central areas of East County, where heavy rain and flash flooding is occurring.  Heaviest rains are from Shelter Valley north to Borrego Springs, including areas burned by the Vallecito Fire and Banner fire.

Debris flows and flooding are occurring in these areas.  A SIG ALERT has been issued for Highway 78, which has been shut down in the San Felipe/Monument Valley area, where boulders have washed into the roadway.  At Tarantula Wash, one-way traffic controls will remain in effect for several days until roadway repairs can be done, according to the CHP website.

  Campgrounds may be impacted by flash floods and debris flows. Excessive runoff will also cause flooding of small creeks, streams, country roads and farmlands nearby.

A flash flood warning remains in effect for a broader area in our local mountains and deserts.  Monitor the news to learn if this becomes elevated to a flash flood warning, which means flooding is eminent or occurring.

“Today we had the worst flash flooding we have seen in years,” Bob Kutscher, a resident of Borrego Springs on Velite Drive, a main floodway for the Hellhole Canyon watershed wrote in an e-mail to ECM.  Here is a video that he shot of the flash flood on his roadway this afternoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky2fhdoiHpA.  

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jim Pelley

August 23, 2013 (Ocotillo ) – It looked like a scene out of the 1930s, when factory-scale farms removed topsoil in the Midwest, creating dust storms that swept across the western states, reducing vast areas to a Dust Bowl.   Is history repeating itself?

Residents of Ocotillo and other desert communities across the Southwest have recently voiced worries that industrial-scale wind and solar projects that stripped bare the earth would cause dust storms.  Yesterday, a monster-scale dust  cloud rolled across Ocotillo, blackening the sky and obscuring even the wind turbines that tower 500 feet above the town.

August 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) -- Monsoonal moisture will create a slight chance of thunderstorms over San Diego County mountains and deserts Sunday afternoon and evening, the National Weather Service reports. Any thunderstorms that occur will be capable of producing dry lightning, gusty winds, and locally heavy downpours.

July 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)—The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch effective now through Sunday evening in burned areas of San Diego County’s mountains and deserts. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are also forecast.

Monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action if the flash flood watch is elevated to a flash flood warning.

June 27, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for our region, with record high temperatures possible.  Extremely hot weather is forecast Friday through Sunday, with temperatures reaching 116 to 122 in the lower deserts and 110 in the upper desert areas. In the mountains and foothills, temperatures could hit 100 to 105,

Hot temperatures will continue Monday and Tuesday, though slightly cooler than the weekend.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 30, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--We will be experiencing an extremely high fire danger for the next 72 plus hours.  High pressure is building over Southern California.  Lack of rain has resulted in critically low fuel moisture content level.  Warm temperatures with strong gusty off-shore winds will increase the threat of wildfire.

Wildfires affect everyone as resources from areas not serving in wildland urban interface (WUI) are called to assist leaving areas short staffed until personnel can be recalled.  Please advise homeowners to do their part by:

April 7, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning in effect from 6 p.m. tonight to 6 p.m. Monday evening.   Gusts of up to 70 miles per hour with sustained winds of 25-35 mph are forecast for mountain , desert, valley and coastal  areas in San Diego County.

Strongest winds are expected on Monday. Expect blowing sand and dust in desert areas that will reduce visibility. Driving may be difficult in windy areas, particularly for high-profile vehicles. Be watchful for broken tree limbs; property damage is possible.  In coastal areas, winds will bring hazardous conditions for small craft, high surf and strong rip currents.

March 6, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for local mountains and deserts effective now through 3 a.m. on Thursday. Gusts of 45 mph or more are predicted, with breezy though less strong winds continuing Thursday.

A cold winter storm is forecast to bring heavy snow to East County’s mountains; the NWS has issued a winter storm watch from late Thursday through Friday evening.

February 14, 2013 (San Diego's East County) - Gusty northeast Santa Ana winds are forecast from tonight through Saturday afternoon. Sustained winds of 15-30 mph and gusts up to 55 mph are possible in some local mountain passes and canyons.

Driving may be difficult, especially for higher-profile vehicles. Minor damage to trees and outdoor objects that are unsecured may occur.

February 8, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – A cold front will bring chilly temperatures, thunderstorms and in mountain areas, snowfall starting Friday.  Four to ten inches of snow are expected to fall above 4,000 feet, with snow levels dipping down to 2500 feet or even lower Friday night and Saturday. 

Travel may be hazardous on portions of I-8 as well as on mountain roads.

January 13, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for our region.  Strong and gusty north to northeasterly winds will develop over inland and coastal water areas Monday through Tuesday. Damaging winds gusts of 60 miles per hour or more will be possible through and below wind prone canyons and passes.

Frost and freeze warnings remain in effect for portions of the mountains and deserts tonight, though temperatures are expected to begin warming on Tuesday and Wednesday.

By Miriam Raftery

January 8, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – If the weather seemed hotter last year than in the past, your memory is correct.

In its State of the Climate Report, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center reveals today that 2012 averaged the hottest temperatures ever recorded for the lower 48 states in the U.S.  Nationwide, the average temperature for 2012 was 55.3 degrees Fahrenheit—a full 3.2 degrees higher than the 20th Century average and one degree hotter than the previous hottest year on record (1998).

It was also a historic year for extreme weather that included severe drought, larger wildfires, hurricanes and storms--the second worst year on record.

View report:   http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/   and  scroll down for highlights. 

December 29, 2012 (San Diego’s East County ) -  A storm moving through our region today and tomorrow is expected to bring rain and in mountain areas, snow.  By tomorrow, snow is forecast to drop down to 4,000 feet—low enough to include Julian and  Lake Cuyamaca—popular destinations for families seeking to frolic in the snow.

Gusty winds are also forecast in mountains and on desert slopes late Sunday. The storm system is expected to move east and out of our county on Monday,  so if you’re planning a trip to the mountains it’s best to wait until after the weekend.

December 19, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a frost advisory in effect from 10 p.m. tonight, with frost likely again Thursday night.  The warning includes San Diego County valleys, desert areas and wind-sheltered locations west of the mountains.

Damage to sensitive plants is likely when frost occurs, so sensitive plants should be covered to protect them.

December 8, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning  starting tonight at 6 p.m. through Tuesday at 2 p.m. for San Diego’s inland valleys.  A red flag alert means conditions for wildfire danger are high.

In addition, a high wind warning has been issued from now through 4 p.m. Monday by the National Weather Service in San Diego.  A dense fog advisory has also been issued for tonight and tomorrow morning.  Use caution if you must drive during these conditons.

Backcountry residents concerned about potential proactive electricicty shutdowns due to high winds can monitor SDG&E's website for updates at http://www.sdge.com/tools/windspeed-dashboard