San Diego Declares Emergency Amid Wettest January Day on Record, Resulting in Widespread Flooding. The heavy rainfall has caused significant issues across the city, prompting the need for emergency measures to address the impact of the extreme weather conditions.
Unanticipated Winter Storm Takes San Diego by Surprise, Typically known for its dry weather, San Diego experienced an unusual winter event this Monday. A powerful Pacific front brought unexpected heavy rainfall to California’s second-largest city, catching residents off guard.
Over the weekend, three storms hit the West Coast. The first had little impact, and the second brought only a small amount of warm rain. However, the third storm, initially expected to be stronger, caught everyone off guard by hitting the city harder than anticipated.
San Diego experienced its record-breaking rainiest January day, as reported by the National Weather Service. Approximately 100 homes were impacted by flooding, leading Mayor Todd Gloria to declare a state of emergency due to the intense rainfall and flash flooding. To assist those affected, a local high school has been designated as a temporary shelter.
Intense rainfall affected Tijuana and other areas in northern Baja California. Eight migrants faced danger due to flooding in the Tijuana River Valley on the U.S. side. Fortunately, they were rescued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, along with the San Diego Fire Department, ensuring their safety during the challenging conditions.
Residents in the Southcrest neighborhood, situated just southeast of downtown, had to be rescued by firefighters as standing water quickly surrounded their apartment complex. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries during the rescue operation.
Navy Base San Diego, situated south of downtown, experienced flooding in the late morning due to heavy rain. Multiple streets and Interstate 15, the route to Las Vegas, had to be closed because of the high water levels.
Navy officials instructed base personnel to remain in place as they worked on managing traffic affected by flooding near San Diego Bay.
Mayor Gloria urged residents and visitors to refrain from using the roads on Monday. Schools in neighboring La Mesa and Spring Valley announced the closure of classrooms on Tuesday.
Mayor Gloria mentioned, “We expected rain, but the amount that came down surprised us all.” He shared this during a news conference at Lincoln High School, now serving as a shelter.
The mayor also revealed plans to request federal funds from the state governor, Gavin Newsome.
During the same news conference, Sean Mahoney from the American Red Cross mentioned that the shelter at Lincoln High School can accommodate 375 people, providing meals and mental health support. Additionally, two homeless centers have been relocated.
The city dealt with flooding in common areas like Mission Valley and Ocean Beach, causing road closures. In Ocean Beach, people found unexpected places to swim without reaching the ocean.
In the northern part of San Diego County, State Route 78 was closed east of Oceanside due to flooding, with eastbound lanes remaining shut on Monday night.
The entire region faced similar challenges as the storm brought heavy rain from the Pacific, forming what experts call “rivers in the sky,” resulting in rare effects.
The storm resembled significant El Niño events in 1983 or 1998, bringing substantial rain, large waves, and even weeks of snow to Southern California.
On Monday, the storm rotated counterclockwise at the coast, impacting northern Baja California and giving San Diego a strong but indirect hit.
The persistent long-tail jet stream, typically responsible for guiding storms farther north, collaborated with a potent atmospheric river. This combination of warm and cold air, as explained by Maxwell, intensified the storm throughout the day.