San Diego floodwaters prompt dramatic rescues as region sees record rain
The NWS said 2 to 3 inches of rain fell over the region, including a January-record 2.73 inches in San Diego – its 4th-wettest day on record. The water level on the San Diego River was still rising in the afternoon, trapping some office workers.
Family escapes flooded home in waist-deep water
Listen to the fear and exhaustion as two San Diego residents struggle, wading through waist-deep flood water to escape their family home.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Terrified homeowners had to wade through waist-deep water to escape their home in San Diego after record rains brought flash flooding across the city on Monday.
"The house I’ve lived in all my life just flooded. Scariest moment of my life," Hugo Pacheco wrote after posting the video of his flooding escape. "This was me evacuating. Everything’s replaceable, but it just hurts seeing it all go. Please pray for me and my family."
The video shows the fear and exhaustion in a woman's voice as she struggles through the flood water - at one point up to her chest; her pants and sweatshirt weighing her down in the chilly waters.
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Woman watches her car wash away in San Diego
Floodwater quickly washed a woman's car down the road in San Diego.
Another man and his sister could only watch as floodwater raging down a city street picked up their car and quickly carried it away. It had been parked on the street before the storm.
Firefighters and lifeguards performed 24 high water rescues from the San Diego and Tijuana Rivers alone in San Diego County. The San Diego Fire Department said crews rescued hundreds of others from flooded homes.
The NWS said 2 to 3 inches of rain fell over the San Diego area, including a January-record 2.73 inches at San Diego's airport – its 4th-wettest day on record. The water level on the San Diego River was still rising in the afternoon, trapping some office workers. San Diego usually sees only 1.98 inches of rain for the entire month of January, the second-wettest month.
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The San Diego river is actively flooding, and water levels are still rising - after 2 to 3 inches of rain fell this morning, the crossing roads on the river will be dangerous with high flows.
(NWS San Diego / FOX Weather)
Drivers on interstates were not safe either. Local media caught emergency crews trying to unclog storm drains on I-15, which was underwater. All lanes northbound were stopped.
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At around 12:45 p.m. emergency crews were on the scene at Interstate 15 northbound at the I-5 interchange. That area of the freeway is underwater. All traffic lanes are stopped. Crews in orange on the left try to unclog a storm drain.
(KFMB via NNS / FOX Weather)
Some drivers ditched cars in favor of paddle boards.
Drivers ditched cars for paddle boards in San Diego.
(FOX Weather)
Even four-legged friends needed help. Pacific Beach lifeguards pulled drivers and a very confused pet from cars near the beach.
CALIFORNIA WATER RESCUES AS ROUNDS OF ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORMS TARGET WEST COAST, ARIZONA
Lifeguards pulled a man and his dog from a car trapped in the water.
(Pacific Beach Firefighters / FOX Weather)
National Avenue in San Diego became a river and the floodwater washed away cars.
Roads turned to rivers in San Diego
National Avenue was overtaken by floodwater on Monday after heavy rain in San Diego. Cars, scattered by the water, are deposited against fences and buildings.
Waves were cresting on downtown roads and lapping against a paralyzed light rail train.
Waves lap against the light rail train in Downtown San Diego.
(@favvsz via X / FOX Weather)
Neighbors helped neighbors try to save themselves and their belongings as the water rose. Water receded in one "lucky" neighborhood. The high watermark on the garage is well above the car's engine, and the water has deposited mud on the hood.
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Image 1 of 4Rushing water left a high water mark on the garage and mud on the hood of the car in San Diego. ( )
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Image 2 of 4San Diego flooding ( )
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Image 3 of 4San Diego flooding ( )
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Image 4 of 4It is raining and flooding in San Diego! Yes, that's a car stuck in the water. (@dwoodyd via X)
The rain tapered off in San Diego Monday evening. The next storm hits California on Wednesday, but major storms look to stay north of San Diego.