Traffic Blocked, Thousands Lose Power in Surprise Storm
By Laura McVicker and Andie Adams ••
WARNING: This video contains explicit language. Powerful winds sent two trees crashing down outside homes in San Diego on Sept. 16, 2014.
A surprise storm wreaked havoc on central San Diego, its coastline and downtown on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a Sig alert, leading thousands to lose power and causing extensive damage.
More than 6,000 customers were without power Tuesday afternoon, and State Route 163 was shut down in both directions after a Sig alert was issued just after 6 p.m.
All northbound and southbound lanes of 163 south of Interstate 8 were closed due to downed eucalyptus trees. The Robinson Avenue and Washington Street exits off SR-163 were also shut down, but crews were able to clear them around 9 p.m.
As of 9:30 p.m., three SR-163 lanes remained closed because trees along the side appeared ready to fall over at any moment. California Highway Patrol and CalTrans officials wanted to investigate the vegetation to make sure it is safe before reopening the freeway.
Kit Corry
A lightning strike in the Pacific Beach area set two palm trees ablaze on Sept. 16, 2014.
Kit Corry
Residents rushed to the fiery trees with fire extinguishers in hand to put out the flames.
Winds lifted planes and flipped them over at Montgomery Field.
Mookie Cunningham
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundred of pounds of branches onto cars below on Sept. 16, 2014. The rain is a result of a surprise storm that popped up in San Diego.
A downed palm tree scraped vehicles in University Heights on Sept. 16, 2014.
Amyt Dahiya
Winds were strong enough to uproot a tree North Park.
Ashley Mullins
Camino de la Reina needed traffic control as broken trees fell into the road on Sept. 16, 2014.
Mookie Cunningham
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundred of pounds of branches onto cars below.
Eric Martinez
Viewer Eric Martinez said signs were blown over in Hillcrest near Park Blvd. and University Ave.
Jassem Alqattan
Palm trees with their shallow roots took a bad beating during the storm.
Lightning shot through the sky above downtown San Diego on Sept. 16, 2014.
Amyt Dahiya
Branches littered the road in North Park as the storm moved through on Sept. 16, 2014.
Amyt Dahiya
Fallen branches were part of the winds' collateral damage.
@xTheBum/Twitter
Rain came pouring down on the marina at Dana Landing on Sept. 16, 2014.
Mookie Cunningham
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundred of pounds of branches onto cars below.
Mariana Gracia
Traffic had to avoid the Texas Street off-ramp from I-8 east when a tree blocked it on Sept. 16, 2014.
A palm tree created headaches in University Heights when it tipped over on Sept. 16, 2014.
Winds forced cable lines to fall down off Washington Street on Sept. 16, 2014.
The Live Wire Bar on El Cajon Blvd. posted pictures showing a tree pushed through its roof on Sept. 16, 2014.
The Live Wire Bar on El Cajon Blvd. posted pictures showing a tree pushed through its roof on Sept. 16, 2014.
Live Wire Bar
Good thing no one was in the bathroom when the tree fell on the Live Wire Bar on Sept. 16, 2014.
A pair of trees fell in Hillcrest on Sept. 16, 2014.
Brent Grunander
A tree just split in the Mission Valley area by Rio San Diego Dr.
Linda
Debris flew onto Bloomingdale's in Fashion Valley.
Darlene Ames
This photo was taken from north of I-8 area of Alpine, looking southwest at the thunderstorm over Rancho earlier today.
George chapman
A tree fell on a house in Teirrasanta, but caused no serious damage.
A shallow-rooted palm tree fell onto a car at 4th and Robinson in Hillcrest.
Parker Rothman
And calm before the storm: this photo was taken before the rain picked up.
Jason
Another rainbow appeared during the thunderstorm over Sorrento Valley.
Meanwhile, San Diego Gas & Electric was reporting on its website that 4,683 customers were in the dark in Mission Valley, Kearny Mesa and Tierrasanta. Another 2,552 lost power in the areas of North Park, Hillcrest, Normal Heights, Mission Hills, Old Town and University Heights.
The lights went out for several hundred others in Escondido, Pala, Santee, Carlton Hills, Fallbrook, Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley, Casa De Oro, Mount Helix and La Mesa.
In the North Park area, crews had most electricity restored by 8:30 Tuesday night, according to SDG&E’s website.
Mookie Cunningham
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundred of pounds of branches onto cars below on Sept. 16, 2014. The rain is a result of a surprise storm that popped up in San Diego.
Kit Corry
A lightning strike in the Pacific Beach area set two palm trees ablaze on Sept. 16, 2014.
A downed palm tree scraped vehicles in University Heights on Sept. 16, 2014.
A palm tree created headaches in University Heights when it tipped over on Sept. 16, 2014.
Mookie Cunningham
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundred of pounds of branches onto cars below.
Lightning shot through the sky above downtown San Diego on Sept. 16, 2014.
Jassem Alqattan
Palm trees with their shallow roots took a bad beating during the storm.
Eric Martinez
Viewer Eric Martinez said signs were blown over in Hillcrest near Park Blvd. and University Ave.
Mookie Cunningham
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundred of pounds of branches onto cars below.
ashley aceto
This video showing a tree damaging three cars on Village Glen Drive in Serra Mesa is just one of many received from NBC 7 users.
Daniel Wu
CA 163N just south of the I-8 Accident happened at 5:40pm. I'm the driver of the Blue Nissan Leaf that was crushed by the tree.
Melinda Pajak
Storm pics University Heights-tree on house Tree down at Morley Field near the tennis center. House hit by downed tree at Delaware and Madison in University Heights. Car under tree also on Delaware. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak University Heights resident
Erin Nations
NBC SD User Submission -- Application: NBC SD Version: 3.3.6.0 (b3227f9b) Edition: en-US-nbcsandieg Ref: bwnhlhpq Model: iPhone System Version: 7.1.1
Kimberly Allard
Enjoying the rain Photo of my son enjoying the first of the raindrops from yesterday's storm right after I picked him up from school in Tierrasanta. This was about 10 minutes before the deluge started and lightning struck just down the street.
Doug
Trees down at FV mall
Laura
Murphy Canyon Rd Last night
Laura
Murphy Canyon Rd Last night
Mike Atkinson
Storm pix I was on the 11 o’clock show a couple weeks ago for the Plumeria Festival. Our plumeria growing area is only about a mile from where all those trees went down in Rancho San Diego. That microburst came through our property as well. It uprooted one of my plumeria trees, cut another one in half, and broke up one of my greenhouses into pieces…
Doug
Bloomingdales roof damage at FV mall
Chris Walkenford Sr
Tornado Picture of Tornado in Santee at about 5:30pm
Amyt Dahiya
Branches littered the road in North Park as the storm moved through on Sept. 16, 2014.
Rosalyn
Lightning strike Tree in front of Von's on 30th and Howard
Steve Sund
Storm cloud Storm cloud 9/16/2014
Melinda Pajak
Storm pics University Heights-tree on house Tree down at Morley Field near the tennis center. House hit by downed tree at Delaware and Madison in University Heights. Car under tree also on Delaware. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak University Heights resident
Zrenda
Caught in the moment Bipolar
San Diego Ruaya's
My Weather Story -- Application: NBC SD Version: 3.3.6.0 (b3227f9b) Edition: en-US-nbcsandieg Ref: dwei27zo28husewdbzoklj Model: iPhone System Version: 7.1.2
Ted Donovan
Sunset from Mt Helix Looking west to Pt. Loma. Sunset after the storm.
Melinda Pajak
More storm pics Morley Field right before the storm hit. It was 97 degrees and then plummeted to 84 when the rain hit. The last picture is at the end of Madison Ave in University Heights ( west end) where a tree took down half the electrical pole and left it in the middle of the street. No one could get to their condos and the power went out. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak A University Heights resident
Melinda Pajak
More storm pics Morley Field right before the storm hit. It was 97 degrees and then plummeted to 84 when the rain hit. The last picture is at the end of Madison Ave in University Heights ( west end) where a tree took down half the electrical pole and left it in the middle of the street. No one could get to their condos and the power went out. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak A University Heights resident
Melinda Pajak
Storm pics University Heights-tree on house Tree down at Morley Field near the tennis center. House hit by downed tree at Delaware and Madison in University Heights. Car under tree also on Delaware. Photo credit: Melinda Pajak University Heights resident
Chuck Pietz
Lightning Strikes the San Diego Skyline Lightning striking the San Diego sky line at 5:30pm Tuesday afternoon September 16th. Taken from the Coronado Ferry landing. I didn't actually see it when I took the picture, so it was quite a surprise when I was reviewing my shots.
Mariana Gracia
Traffic had to avoid the Texas Street off-ramp from I-8 east when a tree blocked it on Sept. 16, 2014.
Ashley Mullins
Camino de la Reina needed traffic control as broken trees fell into the road on Sept. 16, 2014.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Darlene Ames
A Whale of a Storm taken from north of the 8 area of Alpine, looking SW at the thunderstorm over Rancho earlier today.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Mark Sackett
Branches covered a road in San Diego after powerful winds moved through the area on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Trees were uprooted and branches yanked off in the 3800 block of Avocado Blvd. as a powerful microburst sent heavy winds whipping through the East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Two vehicles were the unfortunate victims of a fallen branch.
Facebook user Sonia and Danny
Makena Diaz
A soaking came to Spring Valley on Sept. 16, 2014.
Shawn Dennison
Rancho San Diego saw an enormous downpouring of rain and heavy winds on Sept. 16, 2014.
Sammie Swift
Rains swept over East County roads on Sept. 16, 2014. This is near the corner of Jamacha Blvd. and SR-94
Sammie Swift
Ominous storm clouds formed unexpectedly over East County on Sept. 16, 2014.
Ann
Rain poured down in Mt. Helix, as viewer Ann showed in a video on Sept. 16, 2014.
Traci Lopez-Bosworth
Spring Valley rain.
El Cajon storm.
Debbi Eggleston
El Cajon storm
Karen Rutherford
David Alonso
A branch flew onto the top of a car on Sept. 16, 2014.
Brian Carmody
Winds whipped around pouring rain in East County.
Geli Diaz
Rose Campa
Anna Dioguardi
Azucena Dixon
Gabriela Morales
Jon Styles
Tami Henzie
William Vassos
Brent Grunander
San Diego Storm 9/16 Mission Valley area. Rio San Diego Dr. Club River Run Apartments
CC Borrelli
Twin bow Double rainbow over San Marcos @ about 4:30pm
Liz Walker
Wind and rain in rancho San Diego Back yard damage
Linda
Fashion valley - Bloomingdales
Tiffany Constantinovici
Fallen tree in driveway in El Cajon My parents case home today to this tree In their driveway. They live I El Cajon.
George chapman
tree fell on my moms house in terasanta canto valisques. no serious damage scared the out of mom
NBC SD User Submission 4th and Robinson in hillcrest -- Application: NBC SD Version: 3.3.6.0 (b3227f9b) Edition: en-US-nbcsandieg Ref: hflasxbs4imw7sw8ypz9z Model: iPhone System Version: 7.1.2
Roman
Storm pics / Mission valley
ashley aceto
serra mesa trees down on village glen dr village glen dr 3 cars damaged
Brittany Hernandez
Lightning shot Murrieta, ca Thank you, Brittany
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Kit Corry
Residents rushed to the fiery trees with fire extinguishers in hand to put out the flames.
In Mission Valley, only 141 people were still without power by 9:30 p.m.
As for the other areas, power was estimated to be back up between 9 p.m. Tuesday to Wednesday at 2 a.m.
The storm caused extensive damage throughout San Diego, as numerous downed trees were reported as well as lightning strikes. In the Pacific Beach area, many spectators on social media captured a palm tree on fire following one lightning strike.
At Montgomery Field, winds caught up small planes and flipped them over onto the runway. One even went flying unintentionally over a fence and onto two cars.
A downed tree in Serra Mesa sent hundreds of pounds of branches crashing into another two vehicles.
Viewer sent in pictures of uprooted trees, cable lines knocked down and blocked roads across the county.
Inside a bar called Live Wire on El Cajon Boulevard, winds sent a tree shooting through their roof. One branch broke through the main room and decimated a trophy case inside.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Giorgio Daveed
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Strong winds kicked up at Montgomery Field on Sept. 16, 2014, sending small aircraft flying unintentionally across the runway. One landed on top of cars, while others rested on their roofs.
Another long branch poked straight down from the roof into the bathroom, just inches from the toilet. Thankfully, no one was there at the time.
San Diego's storm is unrelated to the microburst that hit East County earlier in the afternoon, bringing high winds and heavy rains, said NBC 7's Dagmar Midcap. It was a pop-up thunderstorm brought on by an unstable atmosphere, she said.
