SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — SeaWorld San Diego is closed to the public Tuesday as rain and severe weather is forecast to hit the region this week. There are already reports of flooded roads Tuesday afternoon as the rain moves in.
SeaWorld San Diego in Mission Bay Park is closed Tuesday, a park spokesperson confirmed to FOX 5, as the newest atmospheric river storm is starting to hit the region.
The County of San Diego Department of Public Works is reporting the first road closures due to flooding from this latest round of storms.
In Spring Valley, Quarry Rd is closed from SR-125 to Lakeview Drive because of flooding. The Country Club dip is also closed due to flooding.
A flood watch is in effect for San Diego County through Wednesday morning.
San Diego County will see 1 inch to 1.5 inches of rainfall from this storm. FOX 5 Weather Anchor Megan Healy said you can expect heavier rainfall after 9 p.m. Tuesday that will continue overnight. There is also a chance thunderstorms could develop in the area.
The rain is expected to taper off by Wednesday afternoon.
According to Healy, the storm is currently slow moving off the coast of Southern California and has mostly brought light rain to San Diego County so far.
As of now, California has managed to avoid damage from mudslides, wind and rain that was brought on by an atmospheric river only weeks ago, the Associated Press reported Tuesday from Los Angeles, where one to two inches of rainfall is expected on top of the two to five inches that have fallen in the area in recent days.
The inclement weather also caused Disneyland to shorten its hours, while nearby Knott’s Berry Farm and SeaWorld in San Diego closed.
A SeaWorld spokesperson told FOX 5 the park is expected to reopen Wednesday, but that is weather dependent.
The recent storms have left damage across the entire state of California. Here in San Diego, the Jan. 22 storms left three people dead and more than 800 homes damaged.
President Biden on Monday declared that a major disaster exists in the state of California and ordered federal assistance for residents affected by the severe storms and flooding from the late January storms. Residents and business owners can apply for federal assistance through FEMA.