The last bout of rain from an atmospheric river storm that hit San Diego County during Christmas week is expected to bring light to moderate showers for Friday evening, with a possibility of a few lingering showers overnight, NBC 7 meteorologist Greg Bledsoe said.
Most areas should expect a quarter-inch or less with this last round with northern parts of the county seeing more rain than southern portions on Friday night.
Around 6:35 p.m. Friday, major flooding was reported in Oceanside where Interstate 5 meets westbound state Route 78 in lanes two and three, according to the California Highway Patrol.
When maneuvering around deep water, remember to turn around and don’t try to drive through it. Additionally, always driver slower than you normally would on slick roads.
Friday overnight weather summary
COAST : Chance scattered showers – 53
MOUNTAINS: Showers likely – 37
VALLEY: Showers tapering – 47
DESERT: Chance showers – 45
With the county expecting one last bout of rain from a storm rolling through during Christmas week, NBC 7’s Shelby Bremer was live in Oceanside with a wet weather update.
Folks in San Diego’s Mission Valley area rushed to enjoy a post-Christmas Friday before another round of wet weather arrived. NBC 7’s Kelvin Henry spoke to denizens about the rain.
Saturday weather summary
COAST: Drier, cool – 61
VALLEY: Drier, cool – 61
MOUNTAINS: Mostly sunny, chilly – 44
DESERTS: Sunny – 66
The weekend will be drier. Saturday will be mostly sunny, but cool with high temperatures only reaching the low 60s west of the mountains, and mountain areas topping out in the mid 40s.
We’re in for some weather whiplash over the next week. Santa Ana winds will bring dry, warmer conditions from Sunday through Tuesday.
Then rain chances return later next week for around the New Year.
The massive tree missed a nearby home when it fell, and it’s a Christmas miracle nobody was injured, reports NBC 7 and Telemundo 20’s Cecilia Trevino.
Tips on staying safe following a storm
Ahead of Christmas Eve’s storm, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in multiple California counties, including San Diego, due to the potential risks brought on by heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Authorities said high winds might have played a role in a fatal accident in City Heights on Wednesday morning, in which part of a tree fell on a man near the corner of Marlborough Avenue and Wightman Street.
Multiple motorists on San Diego County freeways also reported hazards such as tree limbs and other debris in lanes of traffic.
Motorists were advised to drive at reduced speeds and avoid driving through standing water and flooded roadways. They were also advised to avoid parking under trees or power lines due to the potential that objects could fall amid high winds.
The surf is also up this week, but with the winds at the coast, surfing conditions will be far from ideal. Waves will average between 5 to 8 feet with swells up to 9 feet. High risk of rip currents, and minor flooding and beach erosion is possible. A High Surf Advisory will remain in effect until 11 a.m. Saturday.
How much rain did the Christmas Eve storm bring?
North County coasts, valleys and mountain areas absorbed the most rain from Christmas Eve’s storm. Overall, we picked up some decent rainfall, but amounts came in lower than initially expected and were nowhere near what Los Angeles and Ventura Counties saw, where many spots picked up around 4 to 9 inches!
Damages from the Christmas Eve storm
Christmas Eve’s storm brought a lot of damage across the region. A man died after a tree splintered in half and fell on him, before he went into cardiac arrest in City Heights on Wednesday.
A family is grieving on Christmas Eve after a tree fell outside a home in City Heights, leading to the death of a grandpa. NBC 7’s Shelby Bremer spoke with the family.
Similar incidents were reported around the county at about the same time: a large Chipotle/Starbucks sign came down on two cars in National City on Mile of Cars Way just off Interstate 5. Elsewhere, a palm tree was spotted after it fell in Imperial Beach and a small tree came down in Black Mountain Ranch.
Video obtained by NBC 7 shows the moment the driver of a U.S. Postal Service truck missed falling tree branches by just hair’s width in Tierrasanta on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Promesa Court.
In photos: storm damage around San Diego region Christmas Eve