The last winter storm of the season blew into San Diego County Saturday, bringing rain, snow and strong winds.
Snow was reported at Mt. Laguna, Palomar Mountain, Julian, Ranchita and the highest Borrego elevations. Mt. Laguna had rock slides. Snow was down to the 3,000 feet level by 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The snow level was expected to drop to 2,500 feet by Sunday morning.
In a 24-hour period, automated gauges in Valley Center recorded 1.58 inches of precipitation, just over an inch in San Marcos, 1.19 inches in Alpine and .68 inches at Camp Pendleton.
Gauges at the McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad collected .61 inches, just over half an inch at Montgomery Field in San Diego and 1.25 inches on Otay Mountain, according to unofficial NWS totals.
The California Highway Patrol reported about 2 p.m. lanes on Interstate 8 near West Main Street in El Cajon were flooded but vehicles were able to get through. A clogged drain also caused flooding on all lanes of Interstate 5 at Market Street, between the 94 Freeway and Coronado Bridge offramps.
About 2:45 p.m. a large rock fell in the northbound lane on Sunrise Highway near Laguna Mountain, 17 miles north of Interstate 8 at Pine Valley.
Winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour with stronger gusts were expected in coastal areas and winds of 25 to 35 were expected in San Diego County deserts.
Wind was to blame for blowing a tree into a power pole that knocked out electricity to some San Diego Gas and Electric customers in the Jamacha, West Jamul and Indian Springs area, according to a spokeswoman for the utility. The blusters also downed a power pole in Encinitas. The pole had some rotting inside and would be replaced, she said.
The forecast called for a couple inches of snow to fall down to the 2,000 foot elevation tonight, several inches were expected at altitudes of more than 3,000 feet and more than 3 feet of snow could fall on the highest peaks, the NWS said.
Blowing snow could reduce visibility to near zero at times and travelers were advised to keep an extra flashlight, food and water and chains in vehicles. Travel may be impacted on Interstate 8 through the mountains, on state Route 78 and on Interstate 15 through Cajon Pass.
The weather could also turn deadly for unprepared campers or hikers, the NWS said.
At the beaches, a big surf should be running. A high surf advisory was to take effect at noon for breakers 4-6 feet, building to 6-10 feet after 8 p.m., according to the NWS.
Water temperatures were about 60 degrees. The high surf advisory was to remain in effect through 2 p.m. Monday.
-- City News Service and Julie Pendray contributed to this report.
