Heaviest Rain, Snowfall Expected Monday, with Mountain Travel Treacherous

Share This Article:

A young girl delights in her flight down a snowy slope before fresh powder arrives next week. Photo by Chris Stone

Following a sunny weekend, rain and snow were slated to descend on San Diego County starting early next week, making for potentially dangerous driving conditions for those traveling through the mountains, forecasters said Friday.

Support Times of San Diego's growth
with a small monthly contribution

Become a supporter

The storm was expected to start Sunday night, though the heaviest rain and snowfall is forecast for Monday morning.

A winter storm watch is set to go into effect from 2 a.m. Monday through noon Tuesday, warning of snowy weather impacting interstates 15 and 8, as well as other mountain highways. Gusty winds were expected to accompany the snow, further reducing visibility along mountain roadways.

Up to 2 feet of snow was expected in areas above 6,000 feet, though snowfall was expected in areas as low as 2,500 feet, according to the National Weather Service.

Similar snowy mountain conditions during this week’s winter storm led authorities to shut down portions of Interstate 8 and state Route 79 Thursday.

On Friday, county residents hit the mountains for snowball fights, snowman building and sledding after the chain restrictions were lifted on Sunrise Highway in the morning.

Parking spots along the popular sledding areas along Sunrise Highway were hard to find during the day.

Story continues below

A family created a small ridge on a slope and recorded each other becoming airborne. Photo by Chris Stone

Children delight in creating a snowman in the hills along Sunrise Highway in the Lagunas. Photo by Chris Stone

Families dressed warmly and brought plastic sleds to slide down hillsides along Sunrise Highway in the Lagunas. Photo by Chris Stone

Snowmen sprouted up in play areas along Sunrise Highways in the Lagunas. Photo by Chris Stone

County families raced to play in the snow after chain restrictions were lifted on Sunrise Highway. Photo by Chris Stone

Parking spots along Sunrise Highway were hard to find as both sides of the road were packed with cars. — Parking spots along Sunrise Highway were hard to find Friday as both sides of the road were packed with cars. Photo by Chris Stone

Snowy trees can be seen through a hole in a makeshift igloo built by families near Sunrise Highway. Photo by Chris Stone

Amelia Chiu, 3, of San Diego emerges from a makeshift igloo built by families along Sunrise Highway. Photo by Chris Stone

Joshua Montgomery of Chula Vista leaps in the air as Christian Vargas, 5 of Santee sleds beneath him. — Joshua Montgomery of Chula Vista leaps as Christian Vargas, 5 of Santee sleds beneath him. Photo by Chris Stone

Marta Contreras of San Diego throws a snowball at her daughter in a friendly snowball fight. — Marta Contreras of San Diego targets her daughter in a friendly snowball fight. Photo by Chris Stone

Mountain roads were cleared for snow bound visitors in the Lagunas. — Mountain roads were cleared for snow-bound visitors in the Lagunas. Photo by Chris Stone

Amid sunshine and upper 30s weather, snow on the trees began to melt and dropped clumps of snow on unsuspecting people walking beneath the trees.

The NWS recorded 10 feet of snow in Palomar Mountain, and 8 feet in Julian during this week’s storm.

Moderate rainfall was expected in the county’s coastal and desert areas through Monday night, according to the NWS. More than a half-inch of rain could hit the coasts and valleys, bringing a potential for minor flooding.

The storm was expected to diminish beginning Tuesday afternoon.

During this week’s storm, Escondido received the most rainfall over the last 24 hours at 1.73 inches. Other notable totals included 1.64 inches in Deer Springs, 1.62 inches in Oceanside, 1.60 inches in Ramona, 1.56 inches in San Onofre and 1.53 inches in Skyline Ranch.

— City News Service

Heaviest Rain, Snowfall Expected Monday, with Mountain Travel Treacherous was last modified: December 28th, 2019 by Ken Stone

>> Subscribe to Times of San Diego’s free daily email newsletter! Click here