{"id":390192,"date":"2025-11-19T15:38:31","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T15:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/390192\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T15:38:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T15:38:31","slug":"10-odd-facts-about-san-diegos-weather-history-rain-floods-and-snow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/390192\/","title":{"rendered":"10 odd facts about San Diego\u2019s weather history \u2014 rain, floods, and snow"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Flood of 1916 as seen written at the bottom of the photo. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Digital Archives)<\/p>\n

San Diego skies can shift in an instant (like recently). One moment it\u2019s sunny and mild, the next, storms roll in with heavy rain, wind, or even the rare snowfall. The city\u2019s weather has always been full of surprises \u2014 from record floods to scorching heat \u2014 and its history proves it\u2019s anything but boring. Here are 10 moments that show San Diego\u2019s wild side.<\/p>\n

Charles Hatfield\u2019s Rainmaking Experiment (1915\u20131916)<\/strong>
In the midst of a severe drought, San Diego hired \u201cmoisture accelerator\u201d Charles Hatfield.<\/a> His chemical towers coincided with massive rainfall in early 1916, ultimately causing devastating flooding. While Hatfield was initially credited with ending the drought, the torrential downpours soon revealed the risks of uncontrolled weather modification.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Charles Hatfield\u2019s rainmaking tower with another man standing on the ground assisting with a pole in 1916. (Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center)<\/p>\n

The Great Flood of 1916<\/strong>
In January 1916, weeks of heavy rain overwhelmed the city\u2019s rivers and reservoirs. The San Diego River overflowed, Mission Valley was inundated, and portions of the Lower Otay and Sweetwater Dams were damaged or failed. Roads, bridges, and rail lines were washed out, homes were flooded, and at least a dozen lives were lost. While the city\u2019s harbor and coastline remained intact, the flood left a lasting impact on infrastructure and prompted decades of improvements in flood control.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Another photo of the great flood of 1916, as captioned in the photo. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Digital Archives)<\/p>\n

Two Big Dam Failures in the 1916 Flood<\/strong>
Lower Otay Dam <\/a>catastrophically failed, sending a wall of water rushing down the valley. Sweetwater Dam was overtopped and partially destroyed, highlighting the vulnerability of early 20th-century infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>View of damage to Lower Otay Dam from the 1916 flood. The river is flowing through a damaged dam. (Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Sweetwater Dam damage after the 1916 flood. A chunk of the left side of the dam is gone. (Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center)<\/p>\n

A Rare Tropical Storm Hits (1939)<\/strong>
September 1939 brought an unusual tropical cyclone near Southern California. The storm dumped heavy rain, caused flooding, and produced strong winds \u2014 a rare occurrence for the San Diego region.<\/p>\n

Historic Heat Wave, 1963<\/strong>
On Sept. 26, 1963, San Diego recorded its highest temperature ever: 111\u202fdegrees F. Fueled by strong offshore high pressure and Santa Ana winds<\/a>, this record-setting heat wave tested the limits of residents and infrastructure alike.<\/p>\n

El Ni\u00f1o\u2019s Big Impact: 1965\u201366<\/strong>
The 1965\u201366 El Ni\u00f1o <\/a>brought unusually heavy rain, including one of the wettest Novembers and early winters on record. The persistent storms affected infrastructure, agriculture, and daily life, highlighting the far-reaching effects of these cyclical weather patterns.<\/p>\n

Rare Snowfall in San Diego<\/strong>
Snow is extremely rare in San Diego, but it has occurred on a few occasions: January 1882, January 1949, and December 1967, with nearby areas sometimes recording several inches. These events delighted locals and left a memorable mark on the city.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Tropical Remnants Bring Summer Flooding, 1978<\/strong>
The remnants of Hurricane Norman<\/a> in September 1978 caused flash floods, mudslides, and rough surf in San Diego County. Even without a direct landfall, the storm left a significant mark on local communities.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Hurricane Norman at peak intensity south of the\u00a0Baja Peninsula\u00a0on September\u00a02, 1978. (photo courtesy of Wikipedia\/public domain)<\/p>\n

Record January Rain, 1979<\/strong>
Jan. 30\u201331, 1979, brought 2.57 inches of rain in just 24 hours \u2014 the wettest January day recorded at the time. Streets and rivers swelled as residents contended with the sudden deluge.<\/p>\n

Thunderstorms Are Rare but Happen<\/strong>
San Diego averages only about three thunderstorms per year, and some years see none. When they do occur, these storms can produce dramatic skies, lightning, and brief heavy rainfall, reminding locals that even sunny Southern California isn\u2019t immune to volatile weather.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>One more photo of the flood of 1916 that made an impact on the area. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Digital Archives)<\/p>\n

Sources \/ Further Reading<\/strong>:<\/p>\n