Flash Flood Warning 8, NWS San Diego, CA

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

.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...

Quick Update:

A wind advisory was issued for the coast and valleys. Wind gusts
picking up along the immediate coast with gusts to 40-45 mph. Over
the next few hours gusts could reach 50 mph near the immediate coast
which could cause tree and powerline damage. For the inland valleys
the gusts will not be quite as strong but still 35-40 mph possible
through early afternoon as the low level jet moves across the area.
Convective activity in these areas should aid in transporting some
of the wind down to the surface.

No other changes attm. Areas of heavy rain continue to impact much
of the area with several flood advisories in effect and a flash
flood warning is in effect for the Holy burn scar. The hi-res HRRR
is shifting the focus to the RIV and SD mountains later this morning
through this afternoon with rain rates continuing up to 1" per hour
there with continued concern for flash flooding. Heavy rain also
moving into the lower deserts which could cause additional flooding.

Previous Discussions:

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/JMB
AVIATION/MARINE...MM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
600 AM PST THU FEB 14 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0530 AM     FLOOD            4 N SAN DIEGO           32.77N 117.16W
02/14/2019                   SAN DIEGO          CA   BROADCAST MEDIA

            BROADCAST MEDIA REPORTS AVENIDA DEL RIO NEAR
            FASHION VALLEY MALL IS CLOSED DUE TO
            FLOODING.

&&

SC

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
656 AM PST THU FEB 14 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0603 AM     DEBRIS FLOW      1 W BIG BEAR LAKE       34.24N 116.96W
02/14/2019                   SAN BERNARDINO     CA   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            CALTRANS REPORTS HIGHWAY 18 FROM SNOW VALLEY
            TO BIG BEAR DAM IS CLOSED FOR AN UNKNOWN
            DURATION DUE TO ROCKS, MUD AND DEBRIS IN THE
            LANES.

&&

SC

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
705 AM PST THU FEB 14 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0650 AM     FLASH FLOOD      4 W LAKE ELSINORE       33.68N 117.39W
02/14/2019                   RIVERSIDE          CA   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            ALVARADO STREET BETWEEN COPLASA ST AND PAYNE
            ST IS CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.

&&

SC

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
713 AM PST THU FEB 14 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0635 AM     HEAVY RAIN       5 W RAMONA              33.03N 116.95W
02/14/2019  M2.08 INCH       SAN DIEGO          CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2.08 INCHES SO FAR REPORTED BY SPOTTER.

&&

AOT

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
714 AM PST THU FEB 14 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0713 AM     FLOOD            6 WSW TEMECULA          33.46N 117.25W
02/14/2019                   RIVERSIDE          CA   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            CALTRANS REPORTS SANDIA CREEK CROSSING IS
            FLOODED.

&&

SC