121 Crashes Countywide, Rain Likely in Santee Through Friday

A low pressure system moving down the California coast brought rain to Santee and the rest of the county Thursday, contributing to scores of traffic accidents.

There were 121 crashes reported on county highways and freeways as of 8 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol, which receives an average of 50-75 crash reports in a full 24-hour period when the roads are not wet.

A total of 76 of this morning's crashes occurred between 6 and 8 a.m., leaving 45 to occur between midnight and 6 a.m., the CHP said.

Included in those crashes was a three car accident near Slaughterhouse Canyon Road which backed up southbound Highway 67 for the morning commute, and a four-car accident on Winter Gardens Blvd. in Lakeside, according to CHP.

Heavier showers and isolated thunderstorms were expected Friday and Saturday, along with moderate to locally strong northeast winds along mountain ridge tops and through and below passes and canyons, according to the National Weather Service. The unsettled weather was expected to drop the snow level to 5,000 feet Friday night.

The chance of rain in Santee remains at 70 percent Thursday, drops to 40 percent Friday and 20 percent Saturday. Temperatures are expected to range between 43 and 60 this week in Ramona.

-City News Service

Ramona Weather Forecast (NWS)

• Thursday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
• Thursday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. West wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
• Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
• Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. West wind around 5 mph becoming east in the evening.
• Saturday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 60. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.