A powerful winter storm dumped several inches of rain Monday, causing collisions, flooding and road closures across San Diego County.
A flood warning was issued for the San Diego River at Fashion Valley, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
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An areal flood warning has been issued for San Diego County's central and coastal areas until 9:15 p.m., according to the NWS. An areal flood warning is issued for flooding that occurs more gradually over a period of prolonged rainfall.
More than 1.5 inches of rain has poured into the San Diego river basin in the past 12 hours of a powerful winter storm. The river is currently at 9.9 feet and will overflow at 11.3 feet.
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Monday afternoon, the river flooded, blocking several streets in San Diego, like Ward Road, where water reached the 24 Hour Fitness gym at the intersection.
Several additional low water crossings over the river in Mission Valley are closed due to the flooding.
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Areas impacted by the flooding include Fashion Valley road, Avenida Del Rio, Camino Del Este, Camino De La Reina and Mission Center Road. The flood will flow into the Fashion Valley parking garage and the golf course, possibly prompting the closure of the Fashion Valley Transit Center.
The added rainfall will create creeks and dangerous small river flooding, including the San Diego River.
The Fashion Valley transit center has been closed to all bus traffic, according to the San Diego MTS.
For Ramona residents, Wildcat Canyon Road was closed to vehicle traffic beginning at noon. The closure is at Quincy Canyon Road and was in effect until further notice. All access to Ramona is via SR-67, according to the CHP.
A low pressure system from the northwest tapped a plume of subtropical moisture directed into northern Baja, the NWS said.
As of midday, Mt. Woodson had received 2.98 inches of rain with San Ysidro reporting 1.82 inches. More than a third of an inch of rain has fallen in Borrego Springs.
In Imperial Beach, there was flooding at Coronado Avenue and Gaywood Street. Storm runoff was pooling up to 6 inches in the corner.
Near the Tijuana River Estuary on 19th Street, the roadway was flooded. A large truck was about to drive through but the driver turned around because the water was just too deep.
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Chula Vista resident Arturo Soler said the storm made him change his plans for the day.
"I need to drive in the morning to Riverside but I just stopped because there was a lot of traffic in the morning," Soler said. "I delayed that until later."
Strong winds, with a forecasted strength of 30 mph near the coast, and more than 45 mph in the mountains, will be strongest in the afternoon up until 3 p.m., Kodesh said.
Emergency crews responded to hundreds of accidents across the county.
From midnight to 4 p.m. Monday, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers reported 509 collisions across the County. On average, there are approximately 140 crashes on a good weather day.
A San Diego Fire-Rescue engine stopped on northbound I-805 at I-8 was struck by another vehicle just before noon. CHP officers said the firefighters were helping a stranded driver when the collision occurred.
On southbound I-15 at the connector to westbound SR-52, a light pole was in one of the lanes after several cars collided. One car drove up an embankment and struck the light pole. One patient needed emergency medical attention.
On northbound I-805 at Adams, the CHP worked on a solo vehicle crash where the car ended up on the other side of the K-rail. No one was injured.
On northbound I-805, south of Balboa Avenue, a white van struck the guard rail and overturned in the center divide. No injuries were reported.
CHP Officer Jake Sanchez said most rain-related accidents can be avoided.
"I could tell everybody 100 times to slow down," Sanchez said. "They have to slow down. That would mediate about 75 percent of the crashes from even occurring. If they would just slow down."
According to San Diego police, the following streets are experiencing flooding:
Garnet Avenue just west of Soledad in Pacific Beach
Northbound La Jolla Boulevard in La Jolla
Hotel Circle North in Mission Valley
Avenida Del Rio at Camino de la Reina in Mission Valley
The San Diego County Department of Public Works reported flooding on Country Club Road in the Harmony Grove area and on Lemon Crest Drive, between Wintergardens Boulevard and Riverview Avenue, in Lakeside.
An early report of large rocks on eastbound state Route 78 at Wynola Road was unfounded, CHP said.
SeaWorld San Diego sent out an update that its park would be closed to the public Monday due to inclement weather.
Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego
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