A frigid winter storm continued to deliver widespread rain, mountain snow and whipping winds to the San Diego area Thursday, with similarly cold and wet conditions expected to continue into the weekend.
As of 8 a.m. Thursday, the unsettled atmospheric system had dropped nearly an inch of rainfall in some areas and more than a foot of snow in others, the National Weather Service reported.
The top two-day rain totals, according to the NWS, included 0.97 of an inch in Alpine; 0.85 in Campo and Pine Valley; 0.83 at Lake Wohlford; 0.82 in the Palomar area; 0.79 in Julian and 0.77 at Henshaw Dam.
Inclement Weather Shelter Program
The Inclement Weather Shelter Program for San Diegans experiencing homelessness has been activated on Thursday by the San Diego Housing Commission in partnership with the City of San Diego.
- Father Joe's Villages
- Joan Kroc Center: Up to 45 adult individuals and an additional 10 beds for families with minor children and/or single women.
Check-In: 4 p.m. and throughout the night until full
Check-Out: 5 a.m.
1501 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
- Paul Mirabile Center: Up to 40 adult individuals
Check-In: 4 p.m. and throughout the night until full
Check-Out: 5 a.m.
1501 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
- Living Water Church of the Nazarene: Up to 28 adult individuals
Check-In: 8-10 p.m. or until full
Check-Out: 6:30 a.m.
1550 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92101
- San Diego Rescue Mission: Up to 10 single women
Check-In: 5:30 p.m. - Throughout the night until full
Check-Out: 7 a.m.
120 Elm Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Over the period, the bands of dark clouds out of the north dropped 13 inches of snow on Mount Laguna; eight to 10 inches on Palomar Mountain; and about four inches in both Julian and Warner Springs.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, when the heavy winds were at their height, the county experienced gusts up to 84 mph in the mountains, 67 mph in the inland valleys, 60 mph in the desert and 56 mph along the coast.
The storm also brought record-low maximum temperatures on Wednesday, when it only reached 29 degrees on Palomar Mountain; 31 at Lake Cuyamaca; 49 in Alpine; 51 in Ramona; and 53 in El Cajon and Vista.
The intense storm also prompted the San Diego County Office of Education to cancel classes for the day at Julian Union Elementary School, Julian Union High School, Spencer Valley Elementary School and campuses in the Mountain Empire Unified School District.
School closures
Because of inclement weather, schools in the following districts will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 23:
- Julian Union Elementary School District
- Julian Union High School District
- Mountain Empire Unified School District
- Spencer Valley School District
The rain and mountain snow will become heavier and more widespread Friday and Saturday, according to the weather service, which has issued a winter storm warning for the East County highlands through Saturday afternoon. Traveling in those areas over the period "could be very difficult to impossible," the federal agency warned.
The precipitation will taper off late Saturday and Sunday, with more local rain possible next week, forecasters advised.
