Heavy rains, wind hit San Diego, mudslide in La Jolla, California

San Diego had a storm last night.  This morning it’s gone but so is the typical seventy-two-degrees-and-sunny forecast for the area.

Ferocious winds

Nearly hurricane-force winds awakened folks in the night.  Point Loma reported 61-mph winds, mere tropical-storm wind speed, but up there in fear factor.

Copious rain

Accompanying the winds were buckets of rain.  It all seemed to rush down San Diego's hilly streets in rivers of water, headed for the Pacific Ocean and down from the heights.

Not big by standards

It was only the tenth largest rainfall in San Diego in December.  Not big by historical standards but getting attention, especially in the frighteningly dark cover of night.  All who were awake at 3 a.m. to 4:45 during the height of the storm must have been concerned about getting some kind of water damage. 

Mudslide

There was a small mudslide in a La Jolla neighborhood.  More are expected as the rains abate.  Heavy waterfall soaks the ground creating a slurry of unconsolidated dirt.  Most folks call it mud, and it’s what slides across the roads to create better bottlenecks than usual on the city’s streets.  It’s really bad news when it’s the land supporting a house.

Continuing drought

It’s more bad news when California politicians say the drought continues despite historical rains still clogging the streets.  It’s more bad news when rising water rates continue to fund City of San Diego Water Department pensions.  It’s bad news for city shoppers stunting their sprees for holiday spending because of bad weather.  Business of all kinds have all but shut down already, for all of these reasons.  

A better day....

Streaks of blue sky appear in the San Diego horizon, the harbinger of a better day to come.  The chill should depart from people's bones, the air should clear, the waters should find sea level, and the shops may still sell their wares.  A better day is coming for California, but it might not be today.