What to know about the heavy rains coming to San Diego County this week

Rainfall and thunderstorms are expected throughout San Diego County starting Thursday through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists expect  lighter precipitation from Thursday evening into Friday morning, with chances of heavier rainfall from later on Friday into Saturday.

This storm is coming from an atmospheric river — a large band of subtropical moisture that’s making its way inland and south from directly West of Los Angeles — said

Sam Zuber, a meteorologist at the San Diego National Weather Service station. 

Zuber said NWS’s team of meteorologists saw the storm slow down significantly over time, which indicates a good chance of a prolonged storm.

While a majority of the storm is slow moving, she said there’s also a good chance of thunderstorms, which move a lot more quickly, but bring heavy rainfall as the first atmospheric river passes through.

“The thunderstorm thread is pretty wide,” Zubar said. “The entire county will likely be under some kind of thunderstorm threat, Friday afternoon timeframe into Saturday.”

There are two storm systems the NWS is currently monitoring. After the first storm passes through on Saturday, there’s a chance a second system could pop up and continue to bring slight precipitation to the region on Sunday and Monday.

With every storm system, Zubar said, it’s always the mountains that see the most rainfall.

NWS indicates an increased risk of minor flooding, particularly in areas with recent burn scars from fires.

In anticipation of this, the County and Cal Fire are providing free bags and/or sand for residents of unincorporated areas. People interested in grabbing these supplies from their local fire station should call ahead of time to double-check availability and bring a shovel to fill their bags, as some stations may have a limited supply.

Here is a list of stations offering sand and bags:

• Bonita: Bonita-Sunnyside Fire Station #38: 4900 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902, P: 619-479-2346
• De Luz: De Luz Fire Station #16: 39431 De Luz Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028 P: 760-728-2422
• Dulzura: Dulzura Fire Station #30: 17304 Highway 94, Dulzura, CA 91917, P: 619-468-3391
• Fallbrook: Pala Mesa Fire Station #4, 4375 Pala Mesa Drive, Fallbrook, CA 92028, P: 760-723-2005
• Julian: Julian-Cuyamaca: Fire Station #56, 3407 Hwy 79, Julian, CA 92036, P: 760-765-2885
• Palomar Mountain: Palomar Mountain Fire Station #79, 21610 Crestline Road, Palomar Mtn., CA 92060, P: 760-742-3701
• Potrero: Potrero Fire Station #31 25130 Highway 94, Potrero, CA 91963 P: 619-478-5544
• Ramona: Ramona Fire Station #81, 24462 San Vicente Road, Ramona, CA 92065 P: 760-789-9465
• Ramona: Ramona Fire Station #82, 3410 Dye Road, Ramona, CA 92065, P: 760-789-0107
• Rincon: Rincon Fire Station #70: 16971 Highway 76, Pauma Valley, CA 92061, P: 760-742-3243
• Valley Center: Valley Center Fire Station #2, 28205 N. Lake Wohlford Road, Valley Center, CA 92082, P: 760-751-7605
• Warner Springs: Sunshine Summit Fire Station #59, 35227 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086, P: 760-782-9113

Here are the stations offering bags only:

• Alpine: Alpine Fire Station #17 1364 Tavern Road Alpine, CA 91901 P: 619-445-2635
• Borrego Springs: Ocotillo Wells Fire Station #61 5841 Highway 78, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 P: 760-767-7430
• Borrego Springs: Borrego Springs Station #60, 2324 Stirrup Road, Borrego Springs, CA 92004, P: 760-767-5436
• Boulevard: Boulevard Fire Station #47: 40080 Ribbonwood Road, Boulevard, CA 91905, P: 619-390-2020
• Campo: Campo Fire Station #40 31577 Highway 94, Campo, CA 91906 P: 619-478-5516
• Campo: Lake Morena Fire Station #42 29690 Oak Drive, Campo, CA 91906 P: 619-478-5960
• Descanso: Descanso Fire Station #45 24592 Viejas Grade Road, Descanso, CA 91916 P: 619-445-7508
• El Cajon: Harbison Canyon Fire Station #24 551 Harbison Canyon Road, El Cajon, CA 92019 P: 619-445-5001
• Escondido: Deer Springs Fire Station #11 8709 Circle R Drive, Escondido, CA 92026 P: 760-749-8001
• Escondido: Miller Fire Station #15 9127 W. Lilac Road, Escondido, CA 92025 P: 760-728-8532
• Flinn Springs: Flinn Springs Fire Station#21 9711 Flynn Springs Road, El Cajon, CA 92021 P: 619-443-7121
• Jacumba: Jacumba Fire Station #43 1255 Jacumba St., Jacumba, CA 91934 P: 619-766-4535
• Jamul: Jamul Fire Station #36 14024 Peaceful Valley Ranch, Jamul, CA 91935 P: 619-669-6580
• Jamul: Deerhorn Fire Station #37 2383 Honeysprings Road, Jamul, CA 91935 P: 619-468-3030
• Julian: Shelter Valley Fire Station #62, 7260 Great Southern Overland, Julian, CA 92036 P: 760-765-0155
• Laguna: Mt. Laguna Fire Station #49 33947 Mt. Laguna Drive, Mt Laguna, CA 91948 P: 619-473-8281
• Pine Valley: Pine Valley Fire Station #44 28850 Old Highway 80, Pine Valley, CA 91962 P: 619-578-6621
• Ranchita: Ranchita Fire Station #58 37370 Montezuma Valley Road, Ranchita, CA 92066 P: 760-782-3467
• Ramona: Intermountain Fire Station #85, 25858 Highway 78, Ramona, CA 92065 P: 760-789-3710
• San Pasqual: San Pasqual Fire Station #84 17701 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92025 P: 760-480-9924
• Warner Springs: Warner Springs Fire Station #52 31049 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086 P: 760-782-3560

The city of San Diego offers bags at recreation centers located in each city council district. Sand is not provided and supplies are limited to 10 bags per household or business. See that list here:

• Council District 1 – Pacific Beach Recreation Center, 1405 Diamond St. 
• Council District 2 – North Clairemont Recreation Center, 4421 Bannock Ave. & Robb Field Athletic Area, 2525 Bacon St. 
• Council District 3 – Golden Hill Recreation Center, 2600 Golf Course Drive 
• Council District 4 – Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 6401 Skyline Drive 
• Council District 5 – Scripps Ranch Recreation Center, 11454 Blue Cypress Drive 
• Council District 6 – Standley Recreation Center, 3585 Governor Drive 
• Council District 7 – Allied Gardens Recreation Center, 5155 Greenbrier Ave. 
• Council District 8 – Silver Wing Recreation Center, 3737 Arey Drive & Southcrest Recreation Center, 4149 Newton Ave. 
• Council District 9 – City Heights Recreation Center, 4380 Landis St. 

Once the storm has made its way into town, remember to report broken street lights and blocked storm drains through the Get it Done app, and report downed electrical lines to San Diego Gas and Electric. 

For more information visit the City of San Diego’s Storm Preparedness website