Why this matters
Severe weather, such as flooding and strong winds, can cause damage to property and injury or death to people and animals.
Forecasters predict two storms that are expected to hit San Diego County this week and next could bring further flooding to a region still reeling from last week’s historic rainfall that caused devastating damage.
The National Weather Service said the first storm will begin Thursday afternoon and could bring as much as 3 inches of rain, especially along the coast. Flooding in urban areas and along small streams is possible, forecasters said.
The San Diego River will likely reach 10 feet, which is the flood stage.
Wind speeds will move 35 to 45 mph, with “peak gusts” especially impacting Imperial Beach and other southern San Diego communities. Beaches could see gusts closer to 50 mph.
A second, slow-moving storm is scheduled to arrive by Monday.
The additional rain comes after what city officials described as a “1,000-year storm” last week that overwhelmed San Diego’s aging stormwater system, destroying homes, cars and other property. Southeastern neighborhoods such as Southcrest and Encanto, as well as National City, were hit especially hard.
The City of San Diego has since begun cleaning up accumulated debris and dredging the Chollas Creek — the channel that caused the flooding in the Southcrest neighborhood — in preparation for the upcoming weather events.
The first storm of February is expected to be the stronger of the two but not as severe as last week’s, forecasters said. Rainfall rates are expected to be less than an inch per hour for one to two hours. By comparison, San Diego saw as many as 2 inches of rain per hour during last week’s storm.
The City of San Diego began offering sandbag filling this week to residents at 10 recreation centers in each council district. Residents in communities that were severely impacted by flooding last week will have pre-filled sandbags delivered to their neighborhoods, according to a city statement. Pick-up locations can be found here.
How to stay safe during a flood
San Diego County issued guidance this week as two storms are expected to bring more rainfall to the region.
Evacuate immediately if necessary. Follow evacuation instructions by authorities or evacuate or if you feel unsafe.
Do not travel in the water. Walking, swimming or driving through flood waters could be dangerous.
Get to the highest level if trapped inside a building. Only get on the roof if necessary and once there signal for help. Do not climb into a closed attic to avoid getting trapped by rising water.
Monitor emergency alerts. For local alerts, visit AlertSanDiego.org or download the San Diego Emergency application for Android, or iPhone for future storm updates.
Chula Vista residents can get up to 10 sandbags until Thursday between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Chula Vista Public Works facility at 1800 Maxwell Rd.
National City offered residents to pick up five to 10 sandbags until Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon at Kimball Park.
Residents must show proof of residency, such as a utility bill or driver’s license in order to pick up sandbags. More sand pick-up locations throughout the count can be found here.
The county’s Local Assistance Center is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 836 Kempton St. in Spring Valley to help flood-impacted residents. The center partners with nonprofits, such as American Red Cross, and can help with services including cleanup, rebuilding permits, replacement of vital records, food benefits and more.
Type of Content
News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
