The string of storms has taken a toll on the border. Seven people who may have been trying to cross the border illegally have been rescued from the rain-swollen Tijuana River in the last two days. Across the fence, the rain turned many Tijuana streets into rivers.
Shortly after the skies opened up, so did many Tijuana streets.
In a canyon called Los Laureles, which drains into San Diego’s Tijuana River Valley, torrents of stinking, hot chocolate-colored water carved cavernous gulleys in the roads.
Margarita de los Santos Ramos came out of her house during a short break in the storm to look around.
She says Wednesday night, the water was up to her waist.
"I couldn’t sleep wondering, when I am going to be underwater? When am I going to be carried downstream?"
Tires and trash washed by. De los Santos thought it might be better to spend Thursday night in a shelter.
Thursday afternoon, about 130 people had taken refuge at the eight temporary rain shelters dotted around Tijuana.
Schools in Baja California are closed again on Friday.
