⚠ Need sandbags to prepare for the rain? Find sandbag locations →

X
2-1-1 CALL ME

El Niño Winter Storm Season

 

El Niño Winter Storm Season

What San Diego County residents need to know to prepare, stay informed, and find help during El Niño Storm Season.

Preparedness Watch

El Niño Storm Season

Forecasters expect above-average rain and flooding risk across San Diego County this winter. Review flood preparedness steps and sign up for alerts before storms arrive.

Potential impacts include:

FloodingMudslidesPower OutagesRoad Closures

Emergency Map & Active Incidents

View real-time local hazards, emergency notification areas, evacuation centers, evacuation routes and traffic control points via Alert San Diego.

Emergency Map →Hazard Map →

Power Outages

SDGE Outage Hotline: 1-800-611-7343. Check active grid statuses.

SDGE Outage Map →

Report Road Hazards

Report road hazards and damages, or check current road conditions in your area.

Unincorporated →City Links →

Looking for other disaster resources? Browse our full Disaster Resources Hub for preparedness, active-disaster, and recovery support across every hazard type — not just flooding.

Visit Disaster Resources Hub →

 

High surf and strong winds bending palm trees along the coast during a storm
A flooded road closed to traffic, marked with a Road Closed sign and sandbags
Heavy rain pouring off a rooftop during a storm

What Are the Potential Impacts of El Niño?

With ocean temperatures remaining elevated, this year’s El Niño is projected to gain significant strength. Current meteorological indicators point toward a higher probability of sustained, region-wide rainfall.

Potential Local Impacts:

●Heavy rain
●Flooding in low-lying urban areas
●Mudslides and debris flows
●Landslide risk in steep terrain
●Coastal erosion
●Road closures, transportation delays
●Stormwater system strain
●Power outages

Find Sandbags Near You

211 San Diego’s database can search for the closest available sandbag location. Find your city or community below and click a ZIP code to see nearby sandbag sites sorted nearest to farthest. If you don’t see your exact community listed, click the ZIP closest to you — the search still finds the nearest available site, even in areas without a dedicated location shown here.

Search By Your Zip Code

Know your ZIP code? Enter it below to jump straight to sandbag locations near you.

City / Community
Zip Codes
▸Incorporated Cities (18 — click to expand)
Carlsbad
92008Village / South Carlsbad92010Central Carlsbad
Chula Vista
91910Central / Downtown91913Eastlake / Otay Ranch
Coronado
92118Coronado
Del Mar
92014Del Mar
El Cajon
92020Central El Cajon92021East El Cajon / Crest
Encinitas
92024Encinitas / Leucadia92007Cardiff-by-the-Sea
Escondido
92025Central / East Escondido92027East Escondido / San Pasqual
Imperial Beach
91932Imperial Beach
La Mesa
91942Central La Mesa91941Grossmont / Mount Helix
Lemon Grove
91945Lemon Grove
National City
91950National City
Oceanside
92054South Oceanside / Harbor92057North Oceanside
Poway
92064Poway
San Diego
92109Pacific Beach92117Clairemont92111North Clairemont92105City Heights92102Golden Hill92113Southcrest92114Skyline / Encanto92120Allied Gardens92129Rancho Peñasquitos92131Scripps Ranch92154San Ysidro / Otay Mesa
San Marcos
92069North San Marcos92078South San Marcos
Santee
92071Santee
Solana Beach
92075Solana Beach
Vista
92084North Vista92081South Vista
▸Unincorporated & Rural Communities (26 — click to expand)
Alpine
91901Alpine
Bonita
91902Bonita
Bonsall
92003Bonsall
Borrego Springs
92004Borrego Springs
Boulevard
91905Boulevard
Campo
91906Campo
Descanso
91916Descanso
Dulzura
91917Dulzura
Fallbrook
92028Fallbrook
Guatay
91931Guatay
Harbison Canyon
92019Harbison Canyon
Jacumba Hot Springs
91934Jacumba Hot Springs
Jamul
91935Jamul
Julian
92036Julian
Lakeside
92040Lakeside
Pala
92059Pala
Palomar Mountain
92060Palomar Mountain
Pine Valley
91962Pine Valley
Potrero
91963Potrero
Ramona
92065Ramona
Ranchita
92066Ranchita
Rancho Santa Fe
92067Rancho Santa Fe
Santa Ysabel
92070Santa Ysabel
Spring Valley
91977Spring Valley91978Spring Valley (East)
Valley Center
92082Valley Center
Warner Springs
92086Warner Springs

This list highlights primary locations and does not include every unincorporated community. If your specific area is not shown, searching by your ZIP code will automatically direct you to the nearest available site.

El Niño Resources

Local organizations and programs helping San Diego County residents prepare and recover.

As official disaster declarations are issued, additional support services—including emergency shelter, transportation, and other important resources—will be activated and updated here in real time. The directory below reflects currently available services. For immediate, 24/7 assistance and the latest updates, please call 2-1-1.
Category
Description
Access
Alerts
AlertSanDiegoCounty of San Diego, Office of Emergency Services
Free emergency notification system that sends alerts by phone, text, and email for your specific address, including flood warnings, evacuation orders, and road closures.
Emergency AppAmerican Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties
24-hour disaster help from the Red Cross, including shelter, food, and connections to housing and social services during a declared emergency.
Genasys Protect AppGenasys Protect
Free mobile app and website with real-time public safety alerts, including evacuation orders, road closures, and local danger notifications.
Preparedness
Make a Plan Emergencies and DisasterOffice of Emergency Services, County of San Diego
Provides guides that help all residents, including people with disabilities and anyone with access or functional needs, make a personal disaster plan in order to help better prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency or disaster.
El Niño Preparedness WebpageCity of San Diego
Offers a website with information regarding preparation for the potential impacts of El Niño in San Diego. Provides information on preparing families, homes, and businesses.
Sandbag Finder211 San Diego
Search by ZIP code to find the nearest available sandbag location, with results sorted from nearest to farthest.
Disaster Shelter
Disaster Response and Recovery ServicesThe Salvation Army San Diego Regional Office
Disaster response and recovery services, including emergency shelter and basic needs support for people affected by disasters.
Humane Law Enforcement & Emergency Response TeamSan Diego Humane Society
Officers respond 24/7 to animal rescue, welfare checks, and emergency response for pets and wildlife during disasters.
Emergency Animal Rescue ServicesEmergency Animal Rescue
24/7 physical rescue for any domestic animal or wildlife in a life-threatening situation.
Evacuation Pass for Agriculture and LivestockFire Protection District, County of San Diego
ID card that lets commercial agricultural and livestock operators in unincorporated San Diego County re-enter restricted areas to care for crops and animals during wildfires or evacuations.
Transportation
RideFACTNOWFacilitating Access to Coordinated Transportation (FACT)
Same-day, on-demand paratransit for wheelchair users countywide, with rides available on as little as one hour’s notice.
RideFACTFacilitating Access to Coordinated Transportation (FACT)
Dial-a-ride, curb-to-curb transportation for seniors age 60+ and adults 18+ with a disability.
Emergency Funding
Disaster Response and RecoveryAmerican Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties
24-hour emergency assistance for people affected by disasters, including shelter, food, mental health support, and connections to housing and social services.
Post Disaster Clean Up
Tell Us Now AppCounty of San Diego
Report and track non-emergency storm damage in unincorporated areas, including potholes, fallen trees, flooded roadways, downed power lines, and disaster debris removal.
Get It Done Service Request AppCity of San Diego
Provides a way for residents and visitors to report non-emergency problems to the City of San Diego through the Get It Done mobile app, website, or by phone. Reports may include potholes, graffiti, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, streetlight or traffic signal issues, damaged sidewalks, stormwater concerns, dead animals in the public right-of-way, and other City maintenance concerns. Reports are routed to the appropriate City department or agency for review and follow-up.
Pothole/Road RepairCity and County Public Works Departments
Lists the public works departments across San Diego County that handle pothole and road repair requests, so residents can find the right agency to report road damage in their area.
Mold INFORMATION
Mold InformationCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Government-wide mold information for clinicians, renters, and owners, including cleanup and remediation after a disaster.

City El Niño Preparedness Pages

Find your city’s El Niño page for local storm preparedness information.

More cities coming soon. Additional city El Niño pages are being developed now and will be added here as they become available. Don’t see your city? Call 2-1-1 for help finding storm preparedness information near you.
Riding transit? Check the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) for the latest service alerts before you travel.MTS Service Alerts →

 

Get Storm Alerts Before They Happen

Alert San Diego sends free emergency notifications by phone, text, and email — including flood warnings, evacuation orders, and road closures for your specific address.

Sign Up for Alert San Diego →

 

Frequently Asked Questions

▸  What is El Niño, and why does it matter for San Diego County?

El Niño is a climate pattern linked to warmer-than-usual ocean temperatures in the Pacific, which tends to bring wetter winters to Southern California. This year’s El Niño is expected to be stronger, meaning a higher chance of steady, heavy rainfall, flooding, and storm-related hazards across the region this winter.

▸  How do I sign up for Alert San Diego?

Visit alertsandiego.org and register your phone number, email, and address to receive free emergency notifications, including flood warnings and evacuation orders specific to your location. It only takes a few minutes and is the most reliable way to get storm updates in real time.

▸  Where can I get sandbags for flood protection?

Sandbag distribution sites are available throughout the county. Use the sandbag locations link above, or call 2-1-1 for the closest pickup site and current availability.

▸  What should I do if there’s a flood warning or evacuation order in my area?

Follow evacuation orders immediately and use the recommended route — don’t wait to see how the storm develops. Never drive through a flooded roadway; moving water just a foot deep can carry a vehicle away. Check the Emergency Map for current evacuation zones and road closures.

▸  What happens if I lose power during a storm?

SDG&E may proactively shut off power during high fire-risk or severe weather conditions (a Public Safety Power Shutoff, or PSPS) to help prevent damage. Sign up for SDG&E outage and PSPS alerts in advance, and check the outage map for real-time status during an event.

▸  Need more disaster resources for preparedness, during a disaster, or recovery support?

Browse the full Disaster Resources Hub for preparedness resources, active-disaster support, and recovery help across every hazard type — not just flooding. You can also call 2-1-1 anytime, free and confidential, 24/7.

 

Official Social Channels

Follow verified local agencies for breaking announcements, weather updates, road closures, hazards, and more.

Agency Why Follow / Role X Facebook
County of San Diego General emergency declarations, shelter openings, and recovery updates. X → FB →
CalFire San Diego Real-time wildfire perimeters, containment stats, and evacuation orders. X → FB →
SDG&E Power outage maps, restoration timelines, and safety shutoff alerts. X → FB →
Sheriff Mandatory evacuations, law enforcement activity, and road safety. X → FB →
Alert San Diego Urgent community safety warnings and regional emergency notifications. X → FB →
211 San Diego Emergency preparedness resources, evacuation updates, post-disaster shelter coordination, and immediate crisis relief. X → FB →

Need help finding a resource, or don’t have internet access?

Call 2-1-1 — free, confidential, available 24/7

 

 

Looking for Other Disaster Resources?

Browse our full Disaster Resources Hub for preparedness, active-disaster, and recovery support across every hazard type — not just storms.

See all Disaster Resources →

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so our website functions properly for you.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics and Facebook Meta Pixel to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.