Storms hitting San Diego County Friday night and early Saturday shed enough snow to cause whiteout conditions in the mountains and possibly Interstate 8 east of the Pine Valley, with heavy rains pushing creeks and A densely populated area where the river rages and is very high, according to the National Weather Service.
According to the latest weather forecast, the Bureau of Meteorology said 6 to 18 inches of snow will fall on the mountains Friday morning. Previous projections had a range of 36 to 48 inches. Forecasters say a few feet of snow will be confined to Los Angeles County and nearby higher mountains.
Still, the county will end the week with 2 to 3.5 feet of snow in the local mountains and 2.5 to 4.5 inches of rain in many areas. , said much higher volumes were expected everywhere from Otay Ranch to Escondido.
“There will be less snowfall, but more runoff,” said forecaster Alex Turdy.
His colleague Liz Schenck says, “Even if you’ve driven in the snow before, you shouldn’t be trying to drive up into the mountains[in San Diego County]to see this.” It will be difficult, if not impossible, to create a whiteout.”
The community could get half an inch of rain in an hour. Forecasters are expecting heavy flooding as storms in Alaska and Canada absorb a lot of moisture from the subtropics. This so-called atmospheric river lasts about 24 hours. The river usually hits the area for 6 to 12 hours.
Snow covers the mountains near Pine Valley on Interstate 8.
(Ana Ramirez/San Diego Union-Tribune)
Winds are nearing 40 mph on the coast, gusting about as fast as they moved during the heavy rainstorm earlier this week.
Storms also emphasize the epic power of nature.
Marty Ralph, director of the University of California, San Diego, said the San Diego River Basin receives about 300,000 acre-feet of water, and if there was a way to get it all, it could supply enough water for about half a million homes a year. said. Center for Western Weather and Extreme Waters.
The county does not have that capacity and most of the water flows into the sea. But a great flood will have an impact. The San Diego River is expected to be at least 10 feet deep by the end of Friday or beginning of Saturday, causing street flooding in the Fashion Valley Mall area of Mission Valley.
The incoming storm represents the third wave of cold, wet, volatile air that moved into San Diego from Canada and Alaska this week.
A white-crowned sparrow trying to warm itself up near Pine Valley.
(Ana Ramirez/San Diego Union-Tribune)
Snow and rain on Interstate 8 turned to black ice on Thursday, causing dozens of drivers to stop in the westbound lanes. The situation worsened and around 10:30 am a large rig jackknifed on the highway, blocking the slow lane and shoulder.
Officials said three snowplows were operating in the area, but they couldn’t keep up with snow that fell as high as 2,000 feet overnight.
“It’s snowing briskly, so they can do a lot,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Jared Grieshaber. rice field.”
The driver began calling the CHP dispatcher around 9:15 a.m. and was stranded on westbound Interstate 8 near the Pine Valley checkpoint, east of Sunrise Highway and west of Buckman Springs Road. reported that there is
One caller said about 50 vehicles were unable to drive because the highway was frozen.
Grieshaber said some drivers were stuck in the snow and others stopped because they were uncomfortable driving in the snow.
According to CHP, chains are recommended on State Route 78 in Santa Isabel, east of Ramona, and are required for drivers heading to Sunrise Highway from I-8, which begins near Old Highway 80 in the Pine Valley area. A 4×4 driver can drive on the road as long as the vehicle is fitted with chains.
Vehicles slow down on Interstate 8 near Pine Valley.
(Ana Ramirez/San Diego Union-Tribune)
