Record Deluge Shocks San Diego as Winter Storms Unleash Havoc
Unexpected winter storms hit San Diego, shocking the typically dry city with a record-setting downpour. The third in a series of Pacific storms, initially forecasted to be stronger, turned out to be the wettest January day on record. Mayor Todd Gloria declared a state of emergency due to extreme rainfall and flash flooding. About 100 homes were affected, prompting a high school in the city to serve as a temporary shelter.
Videos on social media depicted cars being swept away on waterlogged roads. In the Southcrest neighborhood, southeast of downtown, firefighters rescued residents as standing water surrounded an apartment complex. Tijuana and northern Baja California also faced significant impact, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection rescuing at least eight migrants in the floodwaters of the Tijuana River Valley.
Navy Base San Diego reported flooding as heavy precipitation led to the closure of streets and Interstate 15. Mayor Gloria urged people to stay off roads, and schools in nearby La Mesa and Spring Valley declared closures for the following day.
The storm, drawing moisture from the Pacific, formed an atmospheric river, akin to “rivers in the sky,” causing once-in-a-generation effects. The situation echoed the havoc of past El Niño years, with widespread flooding and substantial surf. The storm’s counterclockwise spin at the coast and interaction with a long-tail jet stream and atmospheric river created a potent weather system.
Mayor Gloria expressed surprise at the intensity of the rain in a short period. The American Red Cross Southern California Region set up a shelter capable of housing 375 people, providing hot meals and mental health support. The city grappled with flooding in usual areas, including Mission Valley and Ocean Beach. State Route 78 east of Oceanside remained closed due to floodwaters. The storm highlighted the unpredictability of weather events, prompting calls for federal assistance to cope with the aftermath.
