Tropical Storm Kay prompted a major change in San Diego's weather Friday, slowing moving the area out of an oppressive heat wave and into a period of rain, high winds and fears of flooding.
By mid-afternoon Friday, more than a half-inch of rain had already fallen at the airport, while more than three-quarters of an inch had fallen in other areas. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory through 6 p.m. warning of urban and small stream flooding likely to be caused by excessive rainfall in low-lying areas or areas with poor drainage.
A flood watch will be in place through Saturday evening in San Diego County mountains, deserts and valleys.
"Warm, windy and humid conditions will continue through this evening with occasional heavy rain bands and embedded thunderstorms moving across Southern California due to Tropical Storm Kay located about a hundred miles southwest of San Diego," according to the NWS. "Areas of heavy rain could cause flooding problems through Saturday, as deep tropical moisture lingers across our area. Scattered thunderstorms will be possible again each day Sunday through Tuesday, as well, as Kay slowly dissipates, but stalls out, southwest of San Diego, through Tuesday. Although it will remain more humid than normal through next week, temperatures will be much more seasonal."
Some areas that will experience flash flooding:
- Mount Laguna
- I-8 Between Pine Valley And Boulevard
- I-8 Between Boulevard And Imperial County Line
- Hwy 78 Between S2 And Borrego Springs Rd
- Hwy 78 Between Banner And S2
- Hwy S2 Between Agua Caliente And Canebrake
- Hwy S2 Between Canebrake And Imperial County Line
- Hwy S2 Vallecito Creek Rd
- Hwy S2 Between Shelter Valley And Agua Caliente and Fish Creek Wash
Forecasters said mountain and desert areas could get 2 to 4 inches of rain, with some mountain slopes getting as much as 8 inches. Valley areas could get as much as 1 to 3 inches.
Due to the high winds and rainfall, the San Diego County Office of Education announced the closure of the Spencer Valley School District at 11:30 a.m.
Additionally, no after-school activities will be held in the district Friday. Julian Union High School and Julian Union Elementary School districts have also just announced they will follow their minimum day schedules.
Schools in the Mountain Empire Unified School District are closed Friday due to high winds.
Kay had been categorized as a hurricane, but it weakened as it made landfall Thursday night, then began shifting to the northwest over the ocean. But Kay was still packing a punch, promising to bring widespread rain across the region.
While rain and flooding was considered a major threat from Kay, the storm is also bringing strong, gusty winds. Forecasters said gusts topping 109 mph were already clocked at Cuyamaca Peak, while more coastal areas such as Carlsbad and Imperial Beach were seeing gusts in the 30 mph range. The winds were only expected to increase throughout the day.
"Warm, windy and humid today with rain bands and embedded thunderstorms moving into Southern California from northern Baja California Mexico," according to the NWS. "Very strong and gusty east winds will impact the area today with widespread wind damage possible, especially in the mountains. Heavy rain with the potential of flash flooding is most likely over the mountains and deserts of San Diego and Riverside Counties."
In the meantime, high heat will persist Friday, bringing with it concerns about the strain on the statewide power grid. The California Independent System Operator, which manages the grid, issued another Flex Alert for 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, urging residents to cut back their power use to avoid strain on the system and possible rolling blackouts.
The alerts have been in place nightly throughout the heat wave, and thus far, they have worked — with Cal-ISO avoiding any calls for rolling power outages.
During the Flex Alert, residents are asked to save power by:
- setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher;
- avoiding use of major appliances;
- turning off unnecessary lights; and
- avoid charging electric vehicles.
Residents were also advised to precool their homes as much as possible and close blinds and drapes to keep interiors cool.
The power grid has been pushed to the limit during the heat wave. Late Tuesday afternoon, statewide electricity demand reached 52,061 megawatts, breaking the record of 50,270 MW set in 2006, according to Cal-ISO.
Southern California has seen temperatures soar above 100 degrees every day since Aug. 31.
In San Diego, a minimum temperature of 75 on Thursday night tied a record set in 1984. A minimum temperature of 72 in Oceanside Harbor tied a record set in 2014. A minimum temperature of 70 in Vista tied a record set in 2014. A minimum temperature of 72 in Chula Vista broke a record of 71 set in 2020.
The National Weather Service extended an excessive heat warning until 8 p.m. Friday.
Health officials advised residents to stay indoors with air conditioning whenever possible, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hiking or other strenuous activity in extreme heat.
Children and pets should never be left in unattended vehicles for even one minute.
