Heavy rains across San Diego County led to widespread road flooding and forced a number of rescues Thursday, including of two people trapped in a car by rising San Diego River flood waters in Fashion Valley.
A San Diego lifeguard team rescued an adult and a child trapped in a car at the mall there, said Fire-Rescue Department spokesperson Candace Hadley, who was at the scene. It was one of 11 across the city on Thursday, including a helicopter rescue around noon of a person walking near Lake Hodges.
The flooding came after many areas around the county — including downtown San Diego, Mission Valley, Alpine, Poway and Escondido — had been drenched with more than 2 inches in just 12 hours, said National Weather Service meteorologist Philip Gonsalves. He called that rainfall “pretty remarkable.”
Flooding closed the onramp to state Route 78 from El Camino Real in Oceanside, snarled commutes on Interstate 5 in Del Mar and Sorrento Valley and forced road closures and detours in the Mile of Cars area in National City.
The rain also slowed northbound Interstate 15 traffic when a tractor-trailer hydroplaned, crashed and jack-knifed. And the city of San Diego activated its inclement weather program for homeless shelters for the second day in a row, boosting its shelters’ capacity.
By midday, the worst of the rain was believed to be over, and an earlier widespread flash flood warning expired. But the National Weather Service warned there could still be minor flooding of the San Diego River in Fashion Valley through Friday afternoon.
“We had some fairly intense rainfall that was more or less concentrated right in Mission Valley, essentially covering most of the San Diego River basin,” Gonsalves said. “That caused the river to rise rapidly.”
Light showers were expected to move onshore into the county throughout the day, before moving off to the east. But the threat of flash flooding “is pretty much over for the day,” Gonsalves added.
After the showers taper off Thursday, forecasters expect drier weather Friday.
The weekend could bring more chances of light to moderate showers across the county. But along the coast, the rain is expected to subside — and with it coastal flooding risk — before the last king tides of the season arrive Friday and Saturday.
Hadley, the fire department spokesperson, said the clearing afternoon skies should not be a signal to people to travel unnecessarily, because many roads remain flooded.
She also urged drivers not to cross even partially flooded roads. And she said that anyone in a vehicle that gets stuck should stay put, call 9-1-1 and wait for help.