East County News Service

August 22, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Monsoonal flows could bring afternoon and evening thunderstorms, lightning and heavy downpours Monday through Thursday in East County, along with gusty winds.

By Miriam Raftery

August 13, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for San Diego County deserts and a heat advisory for mountain and valley areas. 

The warning and advisory are in effect from Friday at 1 p.m. to Monday at 9 p.m. Temperatures are forecast to reach 116 in Borrego Springs, 105 in Campo, 104 in Ramona, 102 in Alpine and 100 in El Cajon, shattering prior records.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Robert Gehr (c) 2015

July 19, 2015 (San Diego) – Saturday’s deluge, remnants of a hurricane off the Baja coast, set a new record rainfall for the month of July in San Diego and many other local cities, Alex Tardy, Meteorologist Manager at the National Weather Service, San Diego reports.  At Lindbergh Field airport, 1.03 inches of rain has fallen so far this month, topping the old record of 0.92 inches set back in July 1902.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park got 1.16 inches and Ramona’s airport got a full inch. Campo received .99, while Alpine and El Cajon measured .95 inches on Saturday, putting all of these communities above normal for the whole month of July.

The downpour forced cancellation of some events, such as Concert at the Lakes in Santee.

East County News Service

Photo: View from Lyons Peak, Jamul, courtesy UCSD HP Wren webcam

Update 3:30 p.m. -

• Mudslide across roadway: Highland Valley and Archie Moore roads, Ramona, CHP site reports
• Hellhole Canyon Preserve: Vegetation fire, North County, per scanner
• Lightning fire on hillside, Bancroft and Campo Rd. reported, scanner and CHP

June 30, 2015 (Lakeside) 2:40 p.m. - Thunder, lightning and heavy fires are sparking multiple emergency responses across East County. Here are highlights within the past hour:

• Flooding is reporting in Alpine at Tavern and East Willow Road exits.
• A fire was reported at 94 near Shockey Truck Trail.
• Fire crews have also been dispatched to Kitchen Creek near Cameron Truck Trail, per scanner traffic.
• An earlier fire on Highway 67 near Slaughterhouse Canyon is out, halted at about 3 acres.
• Power lines are down and a power pole reported leaning across the roadway at Dye Road in Ramona.
• SDG&E reports power outages in Eastlake/Otay are impacting 171 customers with restoration estimated at 6:30 p.m.
• A larger outage is affected 623 households in Dulzura, Potrero, Campo, Japatul Valley, Buckman Springs, And Morena Village areas with rsetoration estimated for 4:30 p.m.
  

East County News Service

February 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – A winter storm is due to hit our region tonight through Monday, bringing strong gusty winds to mountains and deserts.  Possible thunderstorms are possible starting Sunday night, bringing rain and potentially heavy snowfall down to levels that may include Julian, Descanso and Pine Valley.

The Sheriff offered this reminder to motorists traveling in the mountains: Have a full tank of gas, water and food supplies in case you are stranded in traffic for several hours. Have snow chains for areas where they will be required. Public restroom facilities are limited...Be mindful of areas that are private property which are marked by signs and fences. Private property is off limits to the public for recreational snow activities.

Parking violations will be enforced and citations will be issued. Vehicles blocking roadways and private property will be towed. Be aware of increased law enforcement activity to handle the large crowds.

 

By Miriam Raftery

December 31, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A thick blanket of snow has fallen across much of  San Diego’s inland region, transforming the terrain into a winter wonderland this New Year’s Eve. Lindy Klengler sent photos taken at her Hidden Meadows home in Escondido at just 1700 feet elevation, showing snow around her swimming pool and atop palm trees. “Been here 22 years and never had this happen,” she says.

Melody Munoz and Donna Tisdale sent photos from Boulevard, where three to four inches of snow fell overnight and the temperature on New Year’s morning is a chilly 21 degrees. Snow has also blanketed Descanso and coated landmarks in Jacumba.

Julian received 9 inches of snow and on Mt. Palomar, 12 inches—a foot—has fallen, according to the National Weather Service.  ECM  news partner 10 News observes that level “beats Big Bear!”

December 26, 2014 (San Diego)—The National Weather Service is forecasting frost for the next two nights, through early Sunday morning. Saturday is expected to be the coldest nights.

There will be areas of frost and freezing temperatures in San Diego County’s valleys and deserts. In addition, frost is also forecast for the north coast, particularly Oceanside.

By Miriam Raftery

December 11, 2014 (San Diego) – A powerful storm is set to drench our region, bringing torrential downpours of up to a half inch of rain per hour. A flash flood watch has been issued through late Friday night, with highest risk in areas burned by recent wildfires including the Cocos Fire.  Dangerous surf conditions will occur along the coast. Strong rip currents are forecast, with waves of 7 to 14 feet Friday and Saturday.

East County News Service

November 26, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—Grab the galoshes and fill up your sandbags—a deluge is set to soak our region early next week. Moderate to heavy rains are forecast—along with possible flash flooding and snow.

National Weather Service forecaster Alex Tardy predicts up to five inches of precipitation in some mountain locations, with heavy snowfall possible above 6,000 feet.

November 4, 2014 (San Diego) -- With strong, gusty winds and low humidity in the forecast, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag warning effective immediately for the inland valleys and mountains. The warning is expected to last until 5 p.m. on Thursday night.

Santa Ana winds of 20-30 miles per hours are forecast, with gusts up to 55 miles per hour in places.  The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index for San Diego (Zone 3) indicates that the threat will peak on Wednesday with a threat rating of moderate.

By Miriam Raftery, photos by Danielle Cook and Wayne Brammer

September 7, 2014 (Jacumba Hot Springs)—This high desert town in San Diego’s East County is normally characterized by dry washes.  But tonight around 7:30 p.m., the town’s Centennial Committee chair Danielle Cook reports, “I received a call a half hour ago from another Jacumba resident, Bill Pape, saying to "get down to the bridge right away, there is a flash flood here and about 20 of us are gathering to watch it.”

Update 2:45 p.m.: Viejas Grade in Alpine is closed at Willows due to an ATV accident with injuries.

Photo by Brett Staubaum: Smoke from Borrego tree farm fire and thunderheads overhead

August 21, 2014 (San Diego's East County)--The National Weather Service has issued two separate flash flood alerts due to thunderstorms in the East County.  This is the second day in a row of stormy weather; yesterday over 200 lightning strikes occurred countywide, including 95 on land and 129 over coastal waters.

The first storm cell today was reported about 23 miles south of Borrrego Springs, and the cell is nearly stations. It is producing flooding on sections of the S-1, (Sunrise Highway), as well as Pine Valley. Some of these areas were burned during the Chariot Fire, so there is a danger of mudslides as well. 

There is a second cell that is affecting I-8 and it is slowly moving towards the Mexican border. Both alerts are to remain in place until three this afternoon.

In addition, CHP reports a lightning fire in Borrego at the Borrego tree farm; a road closure in the area has been lifted now.

East County News Service

July 25, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)- A hazardous weather warning remains in effect through tonight across our region, with high temperatures expected to continue through this weekend, cooling slightly.

Thunderstorms are also moving across the region.

July 4, 2014 (San Diego)—The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for San Diego County’s mountains and deserts through early evening. In addition, the NWS warns of strong rip current in San Diego’s coastal areas today through Monday. 

The urban and small stream flood advisory remains in effect for Warner Springs, Ranchita, and the Felipe burn area northeast of Julian until 6:45 p.m.

By Cary Hyatt

May 15, 2014 (San Diego) – High temperatures are forecast to continue this weekend, cooling off early next week.  Today, sunny weather with a higher of 105 a low of 62 is forecast.  A red flag warning for high fire danger continues through 5 p.m. this evening.  Friday and Saturday will be sunny with a high of 96 on Friday and a high of 84 on Saturday; lows are forecast around 56 degrees both days.