San Diego prepares for strong El Niño with expanded storm drain cleaning effort

NOAA released a new outlook indicating there is an 81% chance of El Niño being classified as “very strong” from October to December for Southern California.

SAN DIEGO — A strong El Niño is predicted this year, with San Diego expected to be significantly affected. Following severe floods two years ago, the city is implementing proactive measures to prepare for the anticipated rainy season. 

To prevent a repeat of that disaster, city workers are clearing storm drains in the summer months, something that hasn’t always been part of their routine. Amanda Parra from the city’s Stormwater Department emphasized the importance of these actions, stating, “Previous events that took place in 2024 highlighted the need for us to focus on certain areas, channel maintenance being one of them.”

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a new outlook indicating that there is an 81% chance of El Niño being classified as “very strong” from October to December. The forecast also suggests that Southern California, including San Diego, will likely experience significant rainfall.

Parra added, “This is just an attempt to stay ahead of the upcoming rainy season. In addition to that, we’ll be back prior to the start of the rainy season to make sure that any type of vegetation regrowth, trash, and sediment is removed.” Images displayed on Monday show the channel’s condition before the cleanup, emphasizing the team’s efforts to remove not only brush but also large items, including an abandoned piano.

The city is more equipped to maintain the channels than in previous years due to lifted environmental restrictions and increased funding allocated for city maintenance. Parra noted that previously, the city maintained around 20 to 30 channel segments each year, but now they plan to manage over 55 locations.

They’re asking residents to help by reporting debris in channels and storm drains to the City’s ‘Get It Done’ app, and if possible, clearing it themselves.

“It’s much faster for a community member to pick up a palm frond than it is to coordinate with city forces who are responding to multiple locations to actually go out and just pick up the palm frond to mitigate the potential risk that occurs,” said Parra.

An El Niño working group has also been established, allowing for a coordinated response among different departments. City spokesperson Ramon Galindo said, “Making sure that all the departments are on the same page is really important.” He also encouraged residents to monitor updated flood maps, pointing out that about 15,000 acres in the city are located within flood zones.

Galindo says now is also a good time to consider flood insurance.  San Diego is part of a federal program that offers residents a 15% discount.

Flood victims like Babe Zarate expressed gratitude for the city’s proactive measures but still remain anxious about the potential for another disaster. “It’s great!” Zarate said, but added, “Even though time passed by, but not the trauma…and nobody was here to help.”