Historic flooding occurred on January 22nd. Heavy rainfall occurred between 8 am and noon across western San Diego county.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS SGX wrote it up.
Historic flooding occurred on January 22nd. Heavy rainfall occurred between 8 am and noon across western San Diego county. The heaviest rainfall occurred between 9 am and 11 am in the east side of the city of San Diego in Encanto and Lemon Grove to Spring Valley. Rainfall rates were observed at 1.5 to 2.5 inches in 60 minutes and resulted in 1000 year return intervals. Over 200 water rescues at homes, streets and in water channels were performed by San Diego Fire and Rescue. FEMA found 1000 homes damaged in the following weeks and 600 were declared major damage resulting in up to 31 million in damage claims and displaced residents, including 1200 households, in temporary shelters for several months. San Diego County EOC was activated on January 22 and remained activated at a low level into May 2024. The areas flooded the most were Mountain View, Encanto, Valencia Park, Shelltown, Southcrest, and Lincoln Park.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS San Diego, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 22, 4:45 AM PST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Diego CA
445 AM PST Mon Jan 22 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
A low pressure system will move inland through southern
California and northern Baja today. Precipitation will become more
widespread and heavier this morning and continue into this
afternoon with a slight chance of thunderstorms for this morning
into this evening. Showers will decrease late tonight and end from
north to south on Tuesday. Continued cool through Thursday, then
warmer and dry for Friday through Sunday as high pressure aloft
strengthens along the West Coast.
&&
.DISCUSSION...FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO
COUNTIES...
.SHORT TERM (Today through Wednesday)...
More widespread and heavier rainfall will overspread southwestern
California this morning and continue into this afternoon with
showers continuing into this evening. There is also a slight
chance of thunderstorms for this morning into this evening.
Showers will continue into tonight, then decrease from north to
south on Tuesday with showers mainly over the mountains on
Tuesday. The snow level will rise to 7500 to 8000 feet by early
afternoon, then fall to around 6500 feet for late tonight.
Rainfall is expected to range from around one inch near the coast
to 2 inches in the mountains with around one-half inch in the
deserts. There is around a 85 to 90 percent chance for 2 inches or
more of rainfall in portion of the mountains and around a 60
percent chance for 3 inches or more of rainfall in the wettest
locations. Snowfall of 6 to 12 inches is possible in the
mountains, mostly above 7500 to 8000 feet.
The stronger winds today will be for coastal areas with gusty
south to southeast winds with isolated gusts to 40 mph. Today will
be cooler with the greatest cooling, of 5 to 10 degrees, for the
lower deserts. Tuesday and Wednesday will be a few degrees warmer,
but still cool.
&&
.LONG TERM (Wednesday night through Sunday)...
A low pressure system moving southeastward through the Great Basin
for Wednesday night and Thursday will maintain cooler conditions
with small chances for light precipitation. High pressure aloft
along the West Coast for Friday through Sunday will bring warming with
high temperatures for Sunday 5 to 10 degrees above average, mostly
in the 70s for the coast and valleys. A more-prolonged wet
pattern could arrive in early February.
&&
.AVIATION...
221030Z...Coast/Valleys...Multiple cloud layers BKN-OVC 800-2200 ft
MSL and BKN-OVC 5000-10000 ft MSL with widespread terrain
obscurations as widespread RA develops this morning. Clouds/vis will
lower to 400-1200 ft MSL and 1-5SM, locally lower. RA will taper to
SCT SHRA after 21Z and gradually diminish from northwest to
southeast tonight into Tuesday. Cloud bases will remain mostly 1000-
2000 ft MSL.
Mountains/Deserts...Widespread terrain obscurations will continue
today with cloud bases 3000 ft MSL. RA with SN above 7000 ft MSL
will be more widespread before reverting to SHRA/SHSN after 23Z and
gradually diminish from northwest to southeast tonight into Tuesday.
&&
.MARINE...
Gusty southerly winds will develop this morning then shift and
weaken this afternoon. Stronger northwest winds develop this
evening, continue into Tuesday afternoon, and generate choppy, steep
and hazardous seas. Periods of moderate to locally heavy rain is
expected today. There is a chance of thunderstorms through this
evening, with gusty, erratic winds likely near any thunderstorms.
Check the Small Craft Advisory for details. No additional hazardous
marine weather is expected late Tuesday through Friday.
&&
.BEACHES...
There is a 10-20% chance of lightning through this evening, with
highest chances in the afternoon.
Surf will continue elevated through Wednesday, mostly 3-6 feet.
Localized coastal flooding is possible during morning high tides at
low lying beaches, especially Tuesday and Wednesday.
&&
.SKYWARN...
Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are
encouraged to report significant weather conditions.
&&
.SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Flood Watch from 9 AM PST this morning 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 1 PM PST Tuesday 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...17
AVIATION/MARINE/BEACHES...MMThe San Diego radar (KNKX), 46 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:31 UTC.
16 flash flood, 11 flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
CalTrans report of roadway flooding at I-5 S and SR76.
CalTrans report of flooding on I-5 near Mission Bay.
CalTrans report of a road closure on SR1 due to flooding, photo received on social media as well.
SR78 West and Civic Center Drive offramp had about one foot of standing water.
CalTrans report of all lanes on I-5 at Pershing Drive experiencing flooding.
Trained spotter report of 6 inches of water flowing over a roadway 30 feet wide. Water was up to the bumpers of cars.
CalTrans report of flooding across the entire freeway at SR-94 West and I-805. Rainfall of 2-3 inches in 60 to 90 minutes between 930 and 1100 am from heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
I-5 North/Leucadia South slow lane had standing water and dirt following a landslide in the area. One inch of rain fell in the prior 3 hours.
Flooding observed in intersections with ponding water in some residential areas.
Roadway flooding observed at SR-163 N and Quince Street.
A vehicle was stuck in water at the on-ramp of I-5 North and 28th Street in National City, persons were trapped inside. Rainfall rates in at the time of report were 1.30 inches per hour.
Northbound I-15 at Main Street was fully closed around 1:30 PM due to flooding, and drivers were at a standstill in the flooded roadways.
The off-ramp at SR-163 and Ash Street was closed due to major flooding. Rainfall rates in the area were measured between 0.80 and 1.30 inches in one hour.
CalTrans report of significant flooding near I-805 South and Imperial Avenue and Market Street in Encanto. Large debris and several vehicles were video taped moving downstream on Chollas Creek near Jacob Center and Chollas View, starting at the park. The light rail double train tracks were undercut and severely damaged. Concrete lining in the channel was completely removed and chain link fencing destroyed by debris and flash flooding. Numerous homes in Encanto were flooded out and damaged. FEMA estimated up to 600 homes in this area had major flood damage. This area had rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour and 3 inches in around 90 minutes. Spring Valley ALERT recorded 1000 year rainfall return interval with 2.45 inches in 60 minutes and 3.15 inches in 2 hours. San Diego Fire and rescue reported just over 200 water rescues. There worse areas and were 1200 households were displaced from floods included Mountain View, Encanto, Valencia Park, Shelltown, Southcrest, and Lincoln Park.
CalTrans reported flooding on the Witch Creek Bridge on Highway 79.
SR-15 South and Adams Ave had standing water. 1.0-1.5 inches of rain fell in the area in the previous 3 hours.
Fox5 in San Diego reported that two people, 46 year old female and 48 year old male, were found deceased, drowning in a creek in Santee, near the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Cuyamaca Road. Exactly how and when the deceased were swept into the creek is unknown.
Village Elementary School on Coronado had floodwater several inches deep occur indoors. County officials evacuated students around midday from the ground floor to upstairs classrooms. At least 16 businesses on Orange Avenue sustained flood damage. The PAWS of Coronado animal shelter was flooded, and animals were removed from the garage and transported to other locations. Sewer systems were severely impacted, and residents in the County Club area were urged to not conduct any activity that would discharge water into the drainage system.
All westbound lanes on SR-78 from College Blvd to El Camino Real were closed due to flooding.
San Diego River reached 11.3 feet at USGS Fashion Mall gauge. Flooding in the area was significant including full closure and barricades with flowing water over all crossings, Qualcomm Way, Mission Center road, Fashion Valley road, Camino del Este, Ward road, and Mission road. San Diego fire reported 25 water rescues in the region and tributaries. The Fashion Valley parking garage had 2 to 3 feet of water in the lowest level. The Ward and Fashion Valley trolly centers were surrounded by 1 to 3 feet of water. Water was flowing up to the Riverleaf Inn, mostly blocked by K-rail but was flowing into Hotel circle. Flooded areas were observed as early as 1 pm. Flash flooding along the river including Ward road.
An eucalyptus tree was blown over and blocked all lanes on Sweetwater Road in Bonita. Wind gusts of 30-35 mph were recorded at the time. Severe trees were downed along I-805 and required emergency clean up by Caltrans. Strong winds from a thunderstorm.
All 4 lanes on I-805 North near El Cajon Blvd were flooded.
Flooding and mud debris from construction east of this location were observed.
Two trees were down on the road at SR-163 South and the Washington Street offramp.
CalTrans report of flooding at I-5 South and Main Street.
Pictures received via social media of flooding on roads in Ocean Beach, specifically on Spray Street near the dog beach.
Report received via social media showing pictures of flooding from Chollas Creek which flooded downstream to Rigel Street. Cars were submerged up to their door handles in the photos.
CalTrans reported the Hawthorn Street off-ramp on I-5 was closed due to flooding.
CalTrans reported all lanes of Northbound SR-15 south of Ocean View Blvd were closed due to flooding.
Video received from social media of a flooded parking lot with water flowing along train tracks in Encanto. The fast flowing water in and around Chollas Creek was strong enough to carry vehicles downstream.
The driver of a big rig lost control in heavy rain and hit a guard rail and traveled down an embankment. During recovery of the truck, its fuel tank was punctured, spilling fuel across the roadway and resulting in a full closure of northbound I-15 at I-8.
Lightning struck a palm tree and started a small fire in Banning.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, San Diego | 2024-01-22 | 46 | Female | In Water | Direct |
| Flash Flood, San Diego | 2024-01-22 | 48 | Male | In Water | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in California, January 2024
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1157445, 1157446, 1157447, 1157448, 1153948, 1153949, 1153956, 1157450, 1157452, 1157453, 1153952, 1153953, 1153955, 1157444, 1157455, 1157458, 1157456, 1153957, 1153972, 1153982, 1153959, 1157457, 1153983, 1153964, 1153968, 1153969, 1153975, 1153973, 1153977, 1161055, 1153984.