SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A cold storm brought heavy snow and icy roads to San Diego County mountains Saturday, forcing the closure of several freeways in the Julian area as flooding closed multiple roads across the region, authorities said.
Caltrans San Diego said heavy snow caused the closure of northbound State Route 79 at Old Highway 80 in Descanso and eastbound State Route 78 in Santa Ysabel, except to area residents. The closures were to remain in place until road conditions improved.
Chains were required on Sunrise Highway starting at Old Highway 80, with the exception of four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow-tread tires.
Rain, heavy at times, continued intermittently across the county Saturday with gusty winds and a slight chance of thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service.
Flooding occurred in low-lying areas around the San Diego River. Both lanes of Mission Center Road in Mission Valley were closed between Friars Road and Camino De La Reina due to flooding.
Two people were rescued by lifeguards Saturday when their vehicle was trapped in flooding on Pacific Highway near the San Diego Airport. Lifeguards performed the rescues and the two people were assessed for injuries.
The Ocean Beach Pier remained closed after being damaged during storms and high surf earlier this year. The pier will remain closed until the damage can be assessed safely after the storm season has passed.
The weather service issued a winter-storm warning for the East County highlands through Saturday afternoon. Traveling in those areas over the period "could be very difficult to impossible," the NWS warned.
Occasional rain and snow showers were expected to continue into Sunday morning as the cold storm center moves inland over Southern California.
A short break in the precipitation was predicted for Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, but a pair of disturbances moving onshore to the north could bring back rain and snow showers Monday afternoon through midweek.
It will remain cool all week, with daytime temperatures running well below average.
Southwest winds 10 to 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots were expected through Saturday afternoon, with seas of 7 to 9 feet. A small craft advisory was in effect through 4 p.m. Thunderstorms were also possible through Saturday evening.
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