STORM DOUSES COUNTY
By Miriam Raftery
November 20, 2019 (San Diego) – The first winter storm of the season has dumped snow on Mt. Laguna and Palomar Mountain, also bringing lightning strikes, heavy rainfall and flooding to some parts of San Diego County.
Sheriff Bill Gore tweeted a photo (left) with this message: “Yes there is a bit of snow on Laguna but it is melting fast and the roads are dangerous. This is not the time for your winter outing.”
As of 2 p.m. today, the storm has dumped between 2.5 and 3 inches of rain in Pine Hills, Lake Cuyamaca, Volcan Mountain, Valley Center, Ramona, Pine Valley and Lake Henshaw.
According to the National Weather Service, many other areas of the county received between 1 and 2.5 inches of precipitation. Even the normally parched desert community of Borrego Springs got 1.15 inches.
Flooding shut down some streets, including Quarry Road between State Route 125 and Lakeview Road in Spring Valley.
Dozens of lightning strikes were recorded today, including one that toppled a tree onto a Ramona residence.
The rain brings welcome relief for firefighters in our region, where lack of rain has led to dry, high fire danger conditions unseasonably late in the year.