Storm clearing out; warning issued for surfers, swimmers

The latest El Nino storm brought rain and snow to San Diego County Sunday, but the National Weather Service is calling for clearing

later this week.

Many areas received more than half an inch of precipitation since the

rain started in earnest Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

The official reporting station at Lindbergh Field recorded .67 inch, and .62 fell at Brown Field, but many North County areas received less than a tenth of an inch.

The county Department of Environmental Health issued a General Advisory for runoff into the ocean and bays.

People should avoid swimming, surfing or diving for the next 72 hours

because of heightened levels of bacteria in the water.

Snow blanketed the mountains overnight. The California Highway Patrol

called for plows for Sunrise Highway, where drivers were advised to have chains on their tires.

Light snow was also reported along Interstate 8 at Crestwood, east of

Pine Valley.

The estimated snow level of around 4,500 feet was not enough to bring

the white stuff to Julian, said Lisa Repue of the Julian Hotel.

“It’s tried a couple of times but it isn’t sticking,” Repue said of a

morning snow flurries.

Since then, the area has mostly received drizzle, she said.

Cal Fire reported that flurries fell in Pine Valley, but didn’t stay on the ground there either.

The CHP also reported a slew of mostly minor traffic accidents on rain-slick freeways.

Meteorologist Stefanie Sullivan of the National Weather Service said

another storm will pass through Tuesday but bring only a small amount of rain.

“After that it doesn’t look like much of anything,” Sullivan said.

Temperatures along the coast and inland valleys could reach into the low to mid 70s by Friday, she said.