¿Inundaciones violentas u olas gigantescas? Así se prepara San Diego para un invierno de clima extremo bajo el efecto de El Niño

San Diego is preparing for what could be an extreme El Niño winter — a weather pattern that might bring devastating flooding, giant waves, or, conversely, drought and fire risk. Per CalMatters, the El Niño phenomenon occurs when tropical Pacific waters warm, weakening trade winds and shifting warm water toward North America, which can fuel stronger storms. But the challenge is this: the relationship between ocean conditions and rainfall has weakened in recent decades, making forecasting far less certain. San Diego's geography amplifies the risk. The city sits on floodplains, nestles against hillsides, and is cut through by canyons — all natural channels for water. Layer in aging infrastructure — storm drains and dams averaging a hundred years old — and vulnerability deepens. A severe flood struck Chollas Creek in January twenty twenty-four, damaging over a thousand homes and leaving residents with lingering health problems from water exposure and mold. The city has identified three point three billion dollars in needed drainage improvements, though funding remains unclear. With forecasts uncertain and infrastructure needs running into the billions, San Diego is now readying for whatever El Niño delivers this winter.

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