A “potentially very strong” El Niño season is on the way, which could bring heavy rains and flooding, San Diego city leaders and emergency officials warned Tuesday.
Residents were urged to take precautions ahead of time by knowing the flooding risk in their area, creating an emergency plan and signing up for emergency alerts at AlertSanDiego.org.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the city has been working to “prepare our infrastructure, strengthen our emergency response and identify areas vulnerable to flooding.” But, the city’s work is only half the equation: “We need San Diegans to prepare with us.”
What is El Niño?
El Niño is the natural warming of parts of the central Pacific that alters weather worldwide and spikes global temperatures.
This year’s El Niño was confirmed in June and is expected to grow to historic strength, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
El Niño is not a storm but it influences weather patterns. No two El Niño seasons are alike. Some El Niño seasons have been dry, some wet and others are closer to average.
Why is the city focused on El Niño preparation?
The city has ramped up efforts to address flooding in the years following unprecedented flooding in January 2024 that devastated swathes of southeast San Diego, including Southcrest, Encanto, Mountain View and Lincoln Park.
Some criticized the city for failing to take measures to prevent a clogged Chollas Creek from flooding. The city later paid out millions in settlements to insurance companies that had to pay flooding victims.
The city says they have cleaned and maintained Chollas Creek over the last couple of years, but there is still a $5 billion backlog when it comes to stormwater infrastructure.
The city council ultimately put about $1.9 million of funds to clear channels back in the 2026-27 fiscal year budget but those were restored dollars, not new money for stormwater solutions.
“At the end of the day, would I like more resources for stormwater? Yeah, I’d like more resources for stormwater, for road repair. But those are simply are not in this environment where we see our electric bill going up, our water bill going up, our gas bill going up,” Mayor Gloria said.
How San Diego is preparing for El Niño rainy season
In an effort to be on top of this rainy season, San Diego’s Office of Emergency Services worked with other regional agencies and the National Weather Service to create an educational campaign, complete with a website providing resources to residents.
San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava said severe storms can overwhelm even the most well-taken care of storm channels.
“The 2024 floods showed us how devastating extreme weather can be for families and neighborhoods. We have a responsibility to prepare now by partnering with community, strengthening our infrastructure, focusing resources where the risks are greatest, and making sure every San Diegan has the information they need to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their homes,” Elo-Rivera said.
Additionally, the Stormwater Department is continuing work to clean and maintain stormwater infrastructure including channels and storm drains, officials said. In the last fiscal year, crews maintained more than 11 miles of stormwater channels, prioritizing areas impacted by the 2024 floods and other locations known to experience flooding during heavy rains, according to the city.
In some areas, stormwater channels are privately owned. The city will notify around 180 property owners of their responsibilities for cleaning and maintaining these channels.
I’m terrified. I want to start crying sometimes. We’re going to get flooded.
If it’s as bad as they say, we’re going to get flooded.
Greg Montoya, Survivor of 2024 Chollas Creek flood
San Diego also plans to perform maintenance on more than 20 miles of channels in fiscal year 2027, which began in July.
However, even with such preparation, intense rainfall over a short period can overwhelm stormwater systems and cause flooding. Residents should remain alert during storms and never attempt to drive or walk through flooded areas, according to the city.
For some who were displaced by the 2024 floods, like Greg Montoya of Southcrest, his faith in the city has run dry. He says he’s filed more than 100 “Get it Done” reports to address concerns and has done his own share to protect his property but he says the city needs to do more to protect the underserved community.
“It’s a lot cleaner, but still a lot more needs to be done,” Montoya said. “I’m terrified. I want to start crying sometimes. We’re going to get flooded. If it’s as bad as they say, we’re going to get flooded.”
How San Diegans can prepare for El Niño rainy season
In the city of San Diego, 15,000 acres and more than 6,900 structures are located in Federal Emergency Management Agency-designated flood hazard areas. However, flooding can occur outside these flood zones.
The city offered the following flooding emergency preparedness checklist:
Create an emergency plan with family and know evacuation routes.
Have an emergency kit with enough supplies for three days, including water, food, batteries, flashlights, pet supplies, medications and important documents in a water-proof container.
Sign up for emergency alerts to stay informed.
During a storm, never drive or walk through flooded areas.
During a storm, monitor weather alerts and move to higher ground if flooding is a threat.
Over the next month, information will be mailed to more than 7,000 properties in high-risk flood areas with guidance on protecting property, understanding flood risk and purchasing flood insurance, a city statement read.
San Diego participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, allowing thousands of eligible local property owners and renters receive access to a 15% discount on flood insurance premiums.