San Diego skies can shift in an instant (like recently). One moment it’s sunny and mild, the next, storms roll in with heavy rain, wind, or even the rare snowfall. The city’s weather has always been full of surprises — from record floods to scorching heat — and its history proves it’s anything but boring. Here are 10 moments that show San Diego’s wild side.
Charles Hatfield’s Rainmaking Experiment (1915–1916)In the midst of a severe drought, San Diego hired “moisture accelerator” Charles Hatfield. 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.
The Great Flood of 1916In January 1916, weeks of heavy rain overwhelmed the city’s 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’s harbor and coastline remained intact, the flood left a lasting impact on infrastructure and prompted decades of improvements in flood control.
Another photo of the great flood of 1916, as captioned in the photo. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Digital Archives)Two Big Dam Failures in the 1916 FloodLower Otay Dam 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.
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) 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)A Rare Tropical Storm Hits (1939)September 1939 brought an unusual tropical cyclone near Southern California. The storm dumped heavy rain, caused flooding, and produced strong winds — a rare occurrence for the San Diego region.
Historic Heat Wave, 1963On Sept. 26, 1963, San Diego recorded its highest temperature ever: 111 degrees F. Fueled by strong offshore high pressure and Santa Ana winds, this record-setting heat wave tested the limits of residents and infrastructure alike.
El Niño’s Big Impact: 1965–66The 1965–66 El Niño 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.
Rare Snowfall in San DiegoSnow 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.
Tropical Remnants Bring Summer Flooding, 1978The remnants of Hurricane Norman 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.
Hurricane Norman at peak intensity south of the Baja Peninsula on September 2, 1978. (photo courtesy of Wikipedia/public domain)Record January Rain, 1979Jan. 30–31, 1979, brought 2.57 inches of rain in just 24 hours — the wettest January day recorded at the time. Streets and rivers swelled as residents contended with the sudden deluge.
Thunderstorms Are Rare but HappenSan 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’t immune to volatile weather.
One more photo of the flood of 1916 that made an impact on the area. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Digital Archives)Sources / Further Reading:
San Diego History Center, “Hatfield the Rainmaker” SunnyCV.com, “The Great Flood” Wikipedia, “Great Flood of 1862” Wikipedia, “1939 California Tropical Storm” 10News, “Timeline: The Few Times Snow Has Fallen in San Diego” NOAA / Western Regional Climate Center, “Historic Weather Events” Wikipedia, “Hurricane Norman (1978)” Climatestations.com, San Diego climate history San Diego Digital Archives, 1916 Flood: Old Town Bridge San Diego Digital Archives, Flood Lesson Plans: Community Flood LessonsHence then, the article about 10 odd facts about san diego s weather history rain floods and snow was published today ( ) and is available on Times of San Diego ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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