Heavy rain floods roads, prompts road closures for San Diego County

As a slow-moving storm system is bringing days of rain to San Diego this week, San Diego County and California leaders are urging residents to stay off the roads.

Law enforcement officials urged drivers to avoid driving, but for those who must travel, they urged to be aware of road closures.

Some buses and trolley lines were also affected by rain. Get the latest updates on routes here.

Here are what road closures were in effect as of Feb. 7 at 4 p.m.:

Snow closures

• Sunrise Hwy is now closed from SR79 to 27.5 mile post marker due to heavy snow. Chain control level 1 is in effect for Sunrise Hwy from Old Hwy 80 to Mile post 27.5
• Level 1 chain control is now required on Chihuahua Valley Rd. from mile marker 5 to mile marker 7
• Level 1 chain control is now required on San Felipe Rd. From mile marker 4 to mile marker 7
• Level 1 chain control is now required on Montezuma Valley Rd from San Felipe to 9 mm
• Level 1 chain control is now required on Palomar Mountain

Flooded areas in San Diego

• 10900 San Diego Mission Road. 
• 5100 Mission Center Road.
• 2100 Camino Del Este. 
• 2100 Qualcomm Way.
• 5800 Ward Road.
• 5800 Mission Center Road. 
• Rancho Bernardo Road at I-15. 
• 15400 - 16000 Old Milky Way.
• 13900 Highland Valley Road.
• Rancho Bernardo Road. 
• 4300 Euclid Ave.
• Monroe from 33rd to Bancroft.
• 39th Street/Orange Ave.
• El Cajon Boulevard/34th Street.
• 4200 39th St.
• 52nd/Trojan. 
• 4300 Alamo Ave.
• 51st/Trojan Ave.
• Camino De La Reina/Avenida Del Rio.
• 5100 Cape May.
• 917 Torrance St. 
• 1825 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard.
• 2505 Hotel Circle Pl.
• 2400 - 2900 Midway Dr.
• Catalina Blvd. at Del Monte Ave.
• Monroe Ave. from 33rd St. to Bancroft. 
• Kurtz St. & Sports Arena.
• 8478 Gilman Dr.
• 400 - 900 Sea World Drive.
• 1300 W. Morena Boulevard.
• 2000 Morena Boulevard.
• 3800 Estuary Way.
• 11100 Roselle St.
• Roselle/Dunhill.
• 6000 Carroll Road.
• 14200 San Dieguito Road.
• 1800 - 2700 Monument Road.
• Saturn Boulevard/Sunset.
• 2750 Dairy Mart Road.
• 500 Hollister St.

City of San Diego road closures

• 7400 Hazard Center Drive.
• Mission Center Road from Camino De La Reina to Hazard Center Drive.
• Camino Del Arroyo/Camino De La Reina.
• Camino De La Reina/Camino De La Siesta to Avenida Del Rio.
• 4800 Collwood Boulevard.
• East Bound Hazard Center Drive from Frazee.
• SR - 78/San Pasqual Valley Road.
• San Pasqual Valley Road/Ysabel Creek Road.
• 5045 Collwood Boulevard.
• Hazard Center Drive from Avenida Del Rio to Frazee Road.
• Fashion Valley Road from Hotel Circle North to Riverwalk Drive.
• Torrey Pines Road/East Ivanhoe.
• 1000 Fiesta Island Road.
• Sorrento Valley Road/Carmel Mountain Road.
• 2000 Saturn Boulevard.
• 2400 - 2900 Hollister St. 

North County road closures

• San Pasqual Valley Road at Ysabel Creek Road
• State Route 78 at San Pasqual Valley Road (sinkhole, one lane open each way)
• Campania Ave. is closed from Castello Circle to Camino San Thomas due to flooding.

Rainbow

• 5th Street dip and the Huffstatler Street dip are closed
• 5th Street dip from Huffstatler Street to Old 395 closed
• Huffstatler dip from 5th Street to 2nd Street closed

East County road closures

• La Mesa: Palm Avenue at Spring Street is closed in both directions
• Lakeside: Posthill Rd. is closed between Hwy 67 and Valley Vista Rd.

South Bay road closures

• 2/07/24 11:23 am: Otay Lakes Rd is closed between the 7 mile post marker and the 7.5 mile post marker due to flooding
• Camino Del Rey is closed from the horse park entrance to 5958 Camino Del Rey due to flooding.

---

What to do when you see standing water in the road

Anlleyn Venegas, an expert with AAA said drivers should never go through standing water.

“Driving into flooded areas or freeways could really damage someone’s vehicle, but also it can place them in danger, most of the time is hard to tell how deep the water is on the road so don’t just don’t drive into a large water covered area,” Venegas said.

Simple rule: If you encounter a flooded road, turn around or back up if at all possible. If you've gone too far and your vehicle is no longer operational, call 911 and wait for help to arrive.

Caltrans, with crews on call 24/7, will begin storm patrol on Wednesday and are urging county residents to call 911 if they encounter a flooded road.

Caltrans: Flooding plan for North County’s state Route 78 worked, will use it in future