WEATHER: Most of San Diego County Under Flash Flood Watch

By City News Service

A flash flood watch remained in effect for most of San Diego County today, a day after a heavy rain storm flooded several houses and blocked roadways in the Borrego Springs area.

All roadways into Borrego Springs remained closed this morning because of flooding and rock slides caused by a storm that dropped several inches of rain on Sunday, according to San Diego County sheriff's Deputy Patrick Morrissey. Several houses were flooded in the De Anza community on the north side of Borrego Springs, he said.

The inclement weather was due to monsoonal moisture and moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ivo, according to National Weather Service meteorologists, who said moisture was expected to increase today and spread slightly farther west into portions of the inland valleys.

"It is possible that cloud cover could make for a little less thunderstorm activity this afternoon, but if thunderstorms do form, heavy rainfall and flash flooding are likely, especially in the mountains and deserts with isolated flash flooding in the inland valleys," according to a NWS statement.

A flash flood watch issued for the mountains and deserts on Sunday will remain in effect through Tuesday evening. A flash flood watch for the valleys will expire tonight.

"There should be better surface heating tomorrow, and so another round of widespread thunderstorms and heavy showers is likely Tuesday afternoon through early evening in the mountains and deserts, so the flash flood watch was extended through Tuesday evening in those areas," the NWS said.

Heavy rainfall in areas burned in the past few years is likely to lead to mud and debris flows, according to the weather service.

The agency advised resident to have a plan of action ready to shelter in place or move to higher ground in the event they get caught up in a flash flood.

Road closures in the Borrego Springs area this morning included Montezuma Valley Road from Ranchita to Borrego Springs and state Route 78 at Scissors Crossing, which is east of San Felipe Road, Morrissey said.