El Niño: What it is and how to prepare

A NOAA comparison of El Nino conditions from 1997 and 2015 showing warm water near the equator and West Coast

El Niño. We've all heard the term… it pops up every few years. But what exactly is El Niño? The term puts fear into those who have seen the worst. And yet, this year it might mean good news for drought-stricken states like California and Oregon.

So... what should we expect?

At its basic level, El Niño represents a very, very wet winter: lots of rain and uncommonly heavy storms. How big and how heavy these storms turn out remains to be seen.

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the official name for periodic fluctuations in sea temperature near the equator. Every 2-7 years we see something like this developing, and we refer to it as El Niño ('little boy' in Spanish) when temperatures are higher than normal, and La Niña ('little girl) when they're lower.

Generally speaking, an El Niño year brings LOTS of winter rain, especially in the southern United States. Warm sea temperatures allow storm clouds to gather extra water, unleashing torrential downpours upon the unsuspecting public. The coasts usually get hit the hardest, but inland areas tend to experience the wildest temperature swings, so everyone gets a little extra chaos added to their lives.

Now for the exciting news...

The storm brewing for 2015 has the potential to be the strongest on record if the forecasts turn out to be true.. so the important thing is to BE PREPARED.

Back in 1997 (the current record year for giant El Niño events), the city of Sacramento, California received 32 inches of rain, about twice its average. Current predictions suggest that this year could be even worse, and significant planning will be necessary to ensure the best defense against the onslaught.

Cities around the US are already reinforcing levees and sea walls. They're stock-piling sand bags to protect buildings and gravel bags for erosion control. They're outfitting storm drains with covers, grate guards and curb guards to prevent debris from creating blockages and flooding streets.

We have lots of good ways to prepare for the storm season and protect your facility, as well as meet SPCC Compliance requirements for polluted stormwater runoff. (Sorry, bad weather doesn't let you off the hook when it comes to meeting pollution requirements.) Here's a lineup to help you prepare:

Erosion Control

Gravel bags and silt dikes are excellent for controlling erosion during heavy and frequent rainfall. If erosion is not prevented, people and property can incur significant damage.

• Gravel bags
• Silt dikes

Water Diversion

Divert water from crucial areas and prevent roof leaks from damaging your goods. Warehouses full of valuable merchandise and equipment should keep a simple drip diverter on hand to ensure that any surprise roof leaks don't spell disaster for your business. Sand bags can be on-hand for emergencies, and flexible berms can keep water away from sensitive areas like entries.

• Drip diverters – for diverting water from roof leaks
• Berms – for diverting water in a variety of different conditions

Drain Protection

Protecting the drains from debris and sediment is essential to ensure storm drains are not contaminated by waste or clogged by debris.

• Grate guards
• Curb guards
• Spill Berms

Stormwater Response Products
Curb Guards


Drain Filters
(for straining oil)


Drip Diverters
(for roof leaks)


Erosion Control (dikes and gravel bags)