California’s San Diego County escapes rare tornado as storm rages

San Diego County was placed under a rare tornado warning during a historic storm that has already wreaked havoc in California.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the warning for inland areas of the county, including El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee. The alert was part of wider concern as a deadly storm unleashed hundreds of mudslides in Southern California, prompting multiple flood warnings.

The record-setting storm system had promised up to 3 inches of rain in San Diego and Los Angeles, heightening fears of flooding and mudslides due to highly saturated ground. The region remained under a flood watch, expecting excessive runoff that could lead to flooding in several low-lying and flood-prone locations, according to the NWS.

The situation escalated with the issuance of a flash flood warning, which signals “life-threatening” conditions, as heavy rainfall approached 0.75 to one inch per hour. The warning, which stretches from San Diego to Orange counties, ended at 1 p.m. Tuesday, affecting neighborhoods like Oceanside and Fallbrook in northernmost San Diego County.

During the advisory, the NWS warned of flash flooding near streams, creeks and other waterways, posing threats to low-lying urban areas, highways, roads and underpasses.

A rare tornado warning followed, hitting the South Bay and East County, with possible risks of “pea-sized hail” and winds in excess of 40 mph. Although the warning was canceled around 12:30 p.m. and the system weakened below severe limits, leaving San Diego State University on high alert, triggering a “Take Cover” alert for all students.

As the county braces for isolated storms and continued rain through Wednesday, authorities reported at least one casualty from the flooding — a migrant trying to cross the swollen Tijuana River.

Despite the intensity of the storm, the San Diego NWS office noted that there were no reports of damage consistent with a tornado. The rare midday tornado warning, the highest alert level, kept residents scrambling for immediate cover in the face of a possible tornado formation. Fortunately, with no casualties reported and the front disintegrating, the threat has subsided.