Heavy rain and flash flooding today turned the San Diego morning commute into a soggy mess, disrupting MTS trolley and bus service across parts of the city, shutting down the Fashion Valley Transit Center and forcing detours just as riders were trying to get to work. Delays stacked up while crews moved in to clear standing water at low-lying crossings and put temporary boarding spots into play.
The Metropolitan Transit System initially pulled the plug on trolley service in downtown San Diego while crews checked conditions, then brought all downtown lines back online, including the UC San Diego Blue Line, Orange Line and Green Line, at around 10:15 a.m. Riders were still told to plan for lingering delays while the system caught up, according to FOX5 San Diego.
Detours and how service changed
Flooding forced a temporary closure of the Fashion Valley Transit Center, prompting MTS to activate its Rain Detour 3 plan. Bus service was shifted to Camino de la Reina at the Mission Valley Center Trolley Station, with temporary boarding locations set up for riders. Routes 1, 6, 20, 25, 41, 120 and 928 were all affected, and the agency said the detour kicked in on Thursday morning at 10:06 a.m. to allow for inspections and cleanup. Full details and stop lists are posted by MTS.
Weather triggers and advisories
The National Weather Service issued an early-morning flash flood warning for parts of San Diego County before scaling it back to a flood advisory as the heaviest bands moved through. Forecasters warned of minor flooding in low-lying and poor-drainage areas, citing heavy rainfall rates and the potential for water over roadways and in underpasses. Those conditions lined up with what pushed MTS to close the Fashion Valley hub and reroute service, according to the National Weather Service.
What riders should do
MTS is urging riders to check real-time service alerts and detour maps before heading out and to lean on existing downtown bus service as a backup while crews inspect tracks and stations, according to MTS. Riders are advised to build in extra travel time, double-check schedules and be ready for delays while workers clear leftover water and confirm that infrastructure is good to go.
The heavy rain is just the opening pulse of a multi-day storm pattern expected to bring repeated downpours across California over the coming days, raising the odds of more localized flooding and transit headaches.
