Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS San Diego, CA

666 
WGUS76 KSGX 141526
FFSSGX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service San Diego CA
726 AM PST THU FEB 14 2019

CAC059-065-141845-
/O.CON.KSGX.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-190214T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Riverside CA-Orange CA-
726 AM PST THU FEB 14 2019

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 AM PST FOR
RIVERSIDE AND EAST CENTRAL ORANGE COUNTIES...

At 721 AM PST, heavy rain is occurring. In excess of 2 inches of 
rain has fallen over the warned area since last night. Flash 
flooding may already be in progress.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flows, 
impacting the Holy Fire, Canyon 2 and Canyon 1 burn scars. The 
debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose 
materials.

Some locations that will likely experience flooding include...
Western Lake Elsinore, Temescal Valley, Ortega Highway and Lakeland
Village.

Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are expected in the 
warned area during the next 2 to 3 hours.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain.
Arroyos, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains
will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep
terrain, especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3371 11732 3363 11736 3364 11750 3374 11758
      3380 11749

$$

12

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
500 AM PST Thu Feb 14 2019

Updated to add climate section.

.SYNOPSIS...
A strong atmospheric river will bring periods of heavy rainfall
today with showers decreasing from the northwest tonight. Through
Sunday night, additional rounds of mostly light showers are
possible with lower snow levels. Dry for Monday afternoon through
Tuesday night with colder nights and slowly warmer days. More
widespread showers are possible for Wednesday and Wednesday night.

&&

.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...

.SHORT TERM (Today through Saturday)...
A strong Atmospheric River, a Category 3 Atmospheric River on the
new Scripps atmospheric river scale, remains directed into Orange
and San Diego Counties with both the 18Z and 00Z GFS runs showing
the moisture transport peaking around 18Z (10 AM). Widespread
moderate to heavy rain will continue through this morning into the
afternoon. Rain should decrease behind the cold front which is
expected to move south and eastward across the area during the mid
to late afternoon, moving east of the deserts in the early
evening. Strong gusty south to southwest winds in the mountains
will become westerly in the late afternoon and early evening
continuing into tonight.

There have been a few lightning strikes overnight, mostly well to
the southwest with a more recent strike southwest of the Rancho
Palos Verdes. There was also a spotter report of a lightning
strike near Alpine. Isolated thunder will remain a possibility
into the early afternoon.

Snow levels will remain above 9000 feet into this afternoon,
falling tonight behind the passage of the cold front to around
5000 to 5500 feet tonight with the snow level gradually lowering
through the weekend.

Showers are expected to decrease from the northwest during the
evening. A few light showers are possible for tonight into Friday
afternoon. Another round of mostly light showers is possible for
late Friday into Friday night and again late Saturday into Saturday
night.

Onshore flow will continue periods of stronger and gusty southwest
to west winds in the mountains at times.

Cooler than average high temperatures will continue with low
temperatures returning to near average for tonight and Friday
night.

&&

.LONG TERM (Sunday through Wednesday)...
A cold low pressure system from the north is expected to bring
more widespread showers with light to moderate precipitation for
late Sunday and Sunday night with snow levels falling to around
3000 feet.

Showers are expected to end early Monday with dry weather through
Tuesday night. Days will be slowly warmer. Nights will be colder
with patchy frost in portions of the inland valleys.

Another colder low pressure system from the northwest could bring
more showers for Wednesday and Wednesday night. The models show
more precipitation with this system with moderate impacts
possible.

&&

.AVIATION...
131000Z...RA with cigs varying between 600-1500 feet msl, vis 1-5SM,
and terrain obscured through 22Z. Cigs/vis not quite as low in the
deserts. Southerly winds 20-30 knots with gusts to 40 knots will
produce strong up/downdrafts over and north/east of mountains
through this evening. Improving conditions especially near the coast
after 22-00Z with cigs around 1000-2500 feet msl and vis only
locally 3-5SM in SHRA. Areas of terrain to remain obscured.

&&

.MARINE...
Southeast winds 20-25 kt with gusts to 30 kt will gradually turn
southwest this afternoon, before decreasing and turning westerly
late this afternoon. A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through 4
PM today. Rain through the afternoon, with a slight chance of a
thunderstorm this afternoon. Winds and swell from the northwest
will increase late Friday and could produce hazardous conditions
intermittently through the weekend.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
A strong Atmospheric River will continue heavy rainfall into the
afternoon, decreasing from the northwest during the late afternoon
and early evening with the passage of a cold front. Showers will
decrease from the northwest tonight. Isolated thunderstorms are
also possible into this afternoon. Additional rainfall will range
from 1.5 to 2 inches near the coast to 4 to 6 inches in the
mountains with local amounts to around 8 inches. Additional
rainfall of 0.50 to 1.0 inch is expected for the deserts. The
greatest rainfall in a few locations in the mountains will likely
exceed 10 inches for the storm. Storm total rainfall will likely
exceed 10 inches in the wettest mountain locations.

Hourly rainfall rates of 0.5 to 1.0 inch are possible, especially
in the mountains. Widespread urban and small stream flooding is
likely with flash flooding possible. A flood warning is in effect
for the San Diego and Santa Margarita Rivers with the rivers
expected to exceed flood stage by early evening and crest tonight.

A few lighter showers are possible for late tonight into Friday
with another round of more widespread showers possible for late
Friday into Friday night and yet another round of more widespread
showers for late Saturday into Saturday night. Snow levels will
remain above 8000 feet through today with snow levels for 4500 to
5000 feet for late Friday and Friday night, lowering to 4000 to
4500 feet for Saturday, and 3500 to 4000 feet for Saturday night.

&&

.CLIMATE...
The precipitable water value of 1.68 inches for the NKX sounding
this morning was not only the the highest ever for San Diego in
February, but the highest ever for the November through May period.
The previous record for February was 1.34 inches on the 28th in
2006. Soundings for NZY/SAN/NKX go back to 1948. The 1.68 inches for
this morning is 379 percent of normal for the date.

&&

.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation requested through this afternoon.

&&

.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Wind Advisory until 4 AM PST Saturday for Riverside County
     Mountains-San Bernardino County Mountains-San Diego County
     Mountains.

     Flash Flood Watch through this evening for Apple and Lucerne
     Valleys-Coachella Valley-Orange County Coastal Areas-Orange
     County Inland Areas-Riverside County Mountains-San
     Bernardino County Mountains-San Bernardino and Riverside
     County Valleys-The Inland Empire-San Diego County Coastal
     Areas-San Diego County Deserts-San Diego County Mountains-
     San Diego County Valleys-San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning-
     Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for Coastal
     Waters from San Mateo Point to the Mexican Border and out
     to 30 nm-Waters from San Mateo point to the Mexican Border
     Extending 30 to 60 nm out including San Clemente Island.

&&

PUBLIC/HYDROLOGY/CLIMATE...17
AVIATION/MARINE...MM