Flood — San Diego, California

2020-03-10 · near (see)san Diego Gille, San Diego, California

Event narrative

Between 6pm and 8pm on March 10th, heavy rain in El Cajon and Santee was observed. A vehicle was traveling on I-8 westbound when it crashed into the Forrester Creek canal near First street and Naranca Avenue in El Cajon. As they were trying to escape, one of the passengers got caught in the fast-moving canal (but still within its banks) and was swept miles away. The person was located about 5 miles down Forrester creek near Prospect Avenue in Santee. When pulled from the water, the individual was alive but unconscious, but was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Wider weather episode

An atmospheric river moved into the California bight on March 10th, bringing heavy rainfall and mountain snow to Southern California. A closed upper low moved into the region on March 12, bringing a southerly moisture surge, resulting in more heavy rain (especially in the deserts) and mountain snow. Rainfall totals in the deserts were 1 to 2 inches on March 12th and 550 lightning strikes occurred. Flash flooding occurred in the deserts near Canebrake and Borrego Springs. Snowfall occurred above 7000 feet on March 10th and above 6000 feet on March 12th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.8301, -116.9845)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 883022. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.