Rains Leave County Cold : Roads Dry Out, Power Restored

Morning commuters faced wet streets and detours Monday, while telephone workers tied up loose ends after heavy rains and gusty winds in the new year’s first storm.

More than an inch of rain fell at Lindbergh Field during the storm that departed east Monday. The storm, which began with rain early Sunday morning, dropped as much as eight inches of snow in the mountains, where the California Highway Patrol required chains on vehicles climbing the roads to Palomar Mountain and Mt. Laguna.

The number of accidents was up on slick freeways, and many commuters were routed around streets barricaded because of flooding. By evening, however, the water had dried and roads were clear to traffic, San Diego police spokesman Burt Thompson said.

Pacific Bell spokesman Michael Runzler said service calls were up 20% Monday. Cable lines leading from telephone poles to residences had been jostled in the storm. He said all service should have been be restored by Monday night.

Scattered power outages kept utility company trouble crews working all night, but all power was on line by 7 a.m. Monday, San Diego Gas & Electric Co. spokeswoman Karen Duncan said.

The 1.26 inches of rain recorded at Lindbergh Field during the storm brings the seasonal rainfall total to 5.81 inches. It shot the seasonal surplus 2.40 inches above the norm.

The showers moved on with the storm, but low-pressure centers continued to kick up brisk winds and partly cloudy skies.

Wilbur Shigehara, National Weather Service forecaster, said no rain is expected to fall the rest of the week but cold nights are expected to chill agricultural areas beginning tonight and stiff winds will continue.

“Nights will be very cold; temperatures may be in the 20s in agricultural areas Tuesday and Wednesday nights,” Shigehara said, adding that a frost advisory will probably be issued today.

Daytime temperatures will be slightly lower than normal. Highs from 59 to 64 are expected today and Wednesday along the coast and inland valleys.

Winds in the mountains my reach 30 m.p.h., and mountain highs in the 30s and 40s will drop to 18 to 25 degrees at night.

SAN DIEGO RAINFALL (As of 4 p.m. at Lindbergh Field) Rainfall past 24 hours (inches): 1.11 Total rainfall this month: 1.26 Total rainfall since July 1: 5.81 Total for this date last year: 6.48 Normal rainfall to this date: 3.41