The first storm of the season in San Diego
San Diego goes months without real rain, then gets a year's worth in a few storms. Over 1991-2020, half of an average year's 9.8 inches at the airport fell on about 6 days. A roof that hasn't seen water since spring gets tested all at once.
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What the rain record shows
We counted every day of rain at San Diego International Airport since 1939, grouped into wet seasons from July to June. December through March brings 75% of the year's rain; May through September, 6%. On average there are only 6 days a year with half an inch or more.
In the median recent season, the first half-inch day came around November 29. That is the storm that finds the cracked flashing, the clogged downspout and the slider track full of dirt. The full rain record.
Average rain by month (inches)
What to check in October and November
- Gutters and downspouts. Clear them, and make sure downspouts empty away from the house and not against the slab.
- The roof. Look for cracked or slipped tiles, lifted shingles, and dried-out sealant around vents and skylights. Fixr puts a typical roof leak repair at $350 to $1,500.
- Sliding doors and windows. Clean the tracks and check the weep holes at the bottom of the frame; blocked ones send water inside.
- Grading. Soil and mulch should slope away from the walls. Hillside lots need their drains and swales clear.
- Yard drains and the storm drain on your street. Leaves and trash block them; report a blocked public drain to the city.
When a storm finds a leak
Put a bucket under it, move belongings, and poke a small hole in a ceiling that is bulging with water so it drains into the bucket instead of coming down. Photograph it. Then dry it within a day or two; the EPA says that is how mold is prevented. The first 48 hours.
The big ones
Every few years a single storm overwhelms everything. The wettest day at the airport since 1939 was January 22, 2024, with 2.73 inches. Where San Diego floods.
Questions San Diego homeowners ask
Why does my roof only leak in the first storm?
Debris and dust build up on the roof and in gutters over a dry summer, and sealants dry out in the sun. The first heavy rain hits all of that at once. Later storms often find the same leak if it isn't fixed.
Does insurance cover a roof leak?
Usually the water damage inside from a sudden leak, yes. Wear and tear on an old roof, no. Insurers look at the roof's condition, so keep any inspection or repair records.