East County News Service

February 23, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – UCSD’s HP Wren webcam captured this serene image of snow-covered pine trees and land atop Mount Laguna during a break in today’s winter storm.

By East County Magazine

Photos: Laguna Mountain Lodge Faceboko page

February 6, 2019 (Laguna Mountain) – Five days of storms have blanketed local mountains including Mount Laguna with up to a foot of snow, the National Weather Service reports. Julian, Pine Valley and Descanso all received snow.  The storm also doused much of the county with heavy rains, including up to six inches in some locations.

If you’re considering a trip to frolic in the snow, check current road and weather conditions since tire chains may be required, and use caution on icy roads. Also check these resources:

By Mary Elizabeth Sasso

July 25, 2017 (Mount Laguna) -- Late Friday night, a group of photographers organized by Randy Miller of El Cajon traveled 45 miles east of San Diego to the Cleveland National Forest in search of the Milky Way galaxy. After a short hike up a paved road, we arrived at the Mount Laguna Observatory which is approximately 6100 feet above sea level.

East County News Service

August 28, 2016 (Mt Laguna) -- Lore of the Laguna’s (Living History Pageant) returns as the Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association presents its 29th Annual LIVING HISTORY after a two-year hiatus. The past comes alive in this re-enactment of life in the Laguna Mountains, starting in the early 1900s and going back in time. Visit with Native Americans, rugged cowboys and turn-of-the-(last) century mountain men. Meet the first Laguna Forest Ranger, and relive the summer encampment of a 1908 pioneer family from Imperial Valley. How did they survive back then without any modern devices or conveniences and most of all, cell phones or social media? It was a slower pace, but lives were just as eventful and full of adventure as they are now.

East County News SErvice

January 9, 2016 (Mt. Laguna) - The totals from this week's storm are now complete--and Mt. Laguna received a full foot and a half of snow. 

If you're looking for a snow play day, today's a good option. However a new storm is due in this evening and early in the morning, though it will be lighter, dropping less than an inch of precipitation in most areas.

Click here to view snow and rainfall totals for areas across our region from the National Weather Service:  http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/getprod.php?wfo=sgx&sid=SGX&pil=RRM.  To view more images from local HP Wren web cameras run by the University of California San Diego, such as the image at left, visit http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/.

By Miriam Raftery – Photo by Jim Larson, Caltrans

September 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Exactly 39 years ago this week, Hurricane Kathleen struck our region – the most powerful tropical cylone ever to hit San Diego and Imperial Counties. With another powerful storm, Hurricane Linda, set to sock our region starting Wednesday, it’s worth remembering just how much devastation was wrought the last such storm set to hit the identical area, on the very same day of the year.

Photo: SDSU News Center

November 22, 2014 (Mt. Laguna)—At first, astronomer Robert Quimby almost deleted an e-mail which began,  “Congratulations, you have won $33,000.”  Then the director of San Diego State University’s Mount Laguna Observatory read further and learned that the money is real—his share of a $3 million prize for his research that helped prove expansion of the universe is accelerating.

By Miriam Raftery

February 26, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Readers across East County have sent photos and video of a large controlled burn yesterday in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park, voicing outrage over the burning of habitat including mature trees, given than 99% of the pine trees in the park burned during the 2003 Cedar Fire.

Questions have also been raised over why the burn was allowed in windy conditions, why a helicopters was dispatched to use water from Lake Cuyamaca on a controlled burn, and why more notice was not provided to the public and the press that a major controlled burn was underway by State Parks in conjunction with Cal Fire.

January 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest will conduct prescribed burning from January 15, 2013 through June 30, 2013 when weather and fuel moisture conditions permit.  This vegetation removal is for the purpose of hazardous fuels reduction, community defense zone maintenance and forest health.  The prescribed burning will take place at various locations on the District including Palomar Mountain, Ramona, San Diego Country Estates, Sunshine Summit and Aguanga.  The projects will cover approximately 700 acres.  Some drifting smoke may be visible during the period of burning.

Residents and other public may call Battalion Chief Tim Gray at 619-902-1414 for more information.

Update October 1:  The Chihuahua Fire in Warner Springs was 50% contained as of 9 a.m. October 1. Cal-Fire has estimated the total acreage downward to 40 acres (from 100 acres estimated yesterday).  The Border Fire is 100% contained.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Billy Ortiz

January 4, 2011 (Mt. Laguna) - Yesterday's storm brought snow to Mount Laguna in San Diego's East County--along with a flurry of snow-goers eager to enjoy the seasonal treat. 

May 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A group of hikers found a severely burned human body yesterday at 11:15 a.m. while hiking approximately two miles west of Sunrise Highway (State Route 1) west of mile marker 18. The San Diego Sheriff's homicide unit is investigating and the identity of the victim is unknown.