If you live in La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, Glendale or Burbank, you’ve probably heard a lot about El Niño lately. NOAA has confirmed that El Niño conditions are here and strengthening heading into the 2026–27 winter. That doesn’t mean your street is going to flood. It does mean this is a good year to make sure your drains, sewer line and shutoff valves are ready before the first big storm, not during it.
October is the sensible window. Southern California’s rainy season usually gets going in November and December, plumbers aren’t yet buried in storm calls, and any problem found now can be handled on a normal schedule instead of at 2 a.m. with water coming up through a floor drain.
What NOAA Is Actually Forecasting for 2026–27
El Niño is a warming of the surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. It shifts the jet stream and tends to steer more storms toward the southern half of the United States, including California.
Here’s where the official forecast stands as of NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s most recent monthly update (September 10, 2026):
- An El Niño Advisory is in effect, meaning El Niño conditions are observed and expected to continue.
- NOAA describes El Niño as strengthening.
- NOAA gives a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter of 2026–27.
NOAA’s seasonal outlook for December through February also tilts the odds toward wetter-than-normal conditions across California, with the highest odds near the coast. You can read both directly from the source: the CPC ENSO Diagnostic Discussion and the CPC seasonal outlook discussion. NOAA updates the El Niño discussion monthly, so check back for the latest.
The important caveat: a very strong El Niño can increase the likelihood of wetter conditions and storm impacts in Southern California, but El Niño alone cannot predict exactly how much rain any individual community will receive. Some strong El Niño winters have been very wet locally; others have underdelivered. For day-to-day forecasts and storm warnings, follow the National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard office.
So the goal isn’t to panic. It’s to use the heads-up.
Why Heavy Rain Can Expose Existing Plumbing Problems
To be clear, El Niño doesn’t break pipes. What a long stretch of heavy rain does is put extra stress on a system, and that stress tends to find the weak spots that were already there:
- Partially restricted sewer lines. A line that’s 50% blocked with grease, scale or debris may drain fine on a dry Tuesday. Add heavy household use while everyone’s stuck indoors, plus any extra water finding its way into the system, and the margin disappears.
- Existing root intrusion. Roots enter through cracks and joints and catch everything that flows past. Saturated soil and shifting ground can make an existing root problem worse.
- Damaged sewer laterals. Cracked, offset or broken pipe between your house and the city main can let groundwater and soil in. In older clay and cast iron lines, that’s common.
- Recurring main-line stoppages. If your main line needs clearing every few months, the underlying cause hasn’t been fixed. Rainy season is when that pattern tends to come due.
- Leaks that already exist. A slow leak under a sink or behind a wall is easy to ignore until you’re also dealing with wet weather and moisture in the house.
- Drainage problems. Water that doesn’t drain away from your home properly can add to moisture problems around foundations, crawl spaces and lower-level fixtures.
The common thread: most storm-season plumbing calls start as a problem that was already there.
7 Plumbing Checks to Make Before the Rainy Season
1. Don’t ignore recurring drain stoppages
One clog is a clog. The same drain backing up again and again is a symptom. If you’ve had a slow kitchen line or a main-line stoppage more than once in the past year, get it looked at now. Our drain cleaning service clears the blockage, but the bigger value is figuring out why it keeps coming back.
2. Consider a sewer camera inspection if backups keep returning
A camera inspection shows what’s actually inside the line: roots, sags (bellies), cracks, offset joints or heavy buildup. That turns “it keeps backing up” into a specific answer, so you’re not paying to clear the same line repeatedly.
3. Address documented root intrusion
If a previous inspection already found roots, don’t wait for them to cause a backup during a storm. Depending on severity, the right answer may be cleaning and monitoring or repairing the damaged section.
4. Hydro jet lines where buildup or roots justify it
For heavy grease, scale or root buildup, hydro jetting can clean the pipe wall much more thoroughly than a standard cable. It’s not the answer for every line, though, which we cover below.
5. Know where your main water shutoff is
If a pipe bursts, the fastest way to limit damage is to stop the water. Find your main shutoff now (often near where the water line enters the house, or at the meter), make sure it turns, and show everyone in the household where it is. If the valve is seized or leaking, have it replaced before you need it.
6. Check visible plumbing for existing leaks
Look under sinks, around toilets, at the water heater and anywhere pipes are exposed in the garage or crawl space. Watch for drips, stains, warped cabinet floors or corrosion. If your water bill has crept up with no explanation, that’s worth a leak detection visit.
7. Save a 24/7 plumber’s number before you need it
The worst time to search for a plumber is when water is on the floor. Put a licensed plumber’s number in your phone now. Ours is (818) 790-7270, and we handle emergency plumbing around the clock.
What About Gutters, Storm Drains, Sandbags and Flooding?
This part matters, so we’ll be direct: Professional Plumbing Services handles your home’s plumbing: water lines, drains, sewer lines and fixtures. We do not do gutter cleaning, roof drainage, street storm drains, flood control, sandbagging or flood cleanup. Those are either homeowner tasks or the responsibility of your city, LA County or other public agencies.
Before the rain, homeowners should:
- Clear gutters and downspouts so roof water drains away from your foundation.
- Follow city and LA County storm guidance. Ready LA County’s rain preparedness page is a good starting point. Residents near hillsides or recent burn areas should also review the County’s debris and mudflow guidance.
- Check your local flood risk. Ready LA County’s flooding page links to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and other official hazard maps.
- Sign up for emergency alerts. Alert LA County sends emergency notifications by text, email and phone. Your city may offer its own alerts too.
- Use official sandbag information. LA County Public Works maintains a map of fire stations with sandbags. City-specific information: La Cañada Flintridge, Glendale and Burbank. La Crescenta and Montrose residents in unincorporated areas can use the County map.
Locations and availability can change during the season, so confirm with the official source before you go.
Warning Signs You Should Address Before the First Major Storm
If any of these sound familiar, now is the time to call, not after the forecast turns:
- Multiple drains in the house are slow at the same time
- Your main line has stopped up more than once
- Gurgling from toilets or drains when another fixture is used
- Sewage odors inside or outside the house
- Water or sewage backing up at the lowest fixtures (a floor drain, basement or ground-floor shower, or a downstairs toilet)
- A previous inspection documented roots in the line
- You’ve needed drain cleaning repeatedly
- You already know you have a damaged section of sewer pipe
- Unexplained leaks, water stains or a rising water bill
Multiple slow drains and backups at the lowest fixture usually point to the main sewer line rather than a single clogged drain.
When a Sewer Camera Makes Sense
A sewer camera inspection is worth it when:
- Backups keep coming back after the line is cleared
- You’ve owned an older home for years and never had the line looked at
- You suspect roots, a sag or a broken section
- You want to know the pipe’s condition before deciding on jetting or repair
- You’re buying or selling a home and want to understand the sewer lateral
The value is in the decision it supports. A camera tells you whether the line needs routine cleaning, a targeted repair or nothing at all. We review the findings with you and explain the options. If you’re curious how inspections fit into ongoing care, our article on regular sewer line inspections goes deeper.
When Hydro Jetting Makes Sense
Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the inside of a pipe. It’s a good fit for heavy grease buildup, scale, sludge and root growth, and for lines that keep clogging after standard cabling.
But jetting is not automatically right for every pipe. It’s a powerful process, and the pipe has to be sound enough to take it. On a line that’s already cracked, separated or badly deteriorated, jetting can make damage worse. That’s why we often recommend a camera inspection first when the pipe’s condition is unknown. If the line is damaged, repair comes first and cleaning comes second.
What to Do if a Plumbing Emergency Happens During Heavy Rain
- Protect people first. Keep family and pets away from standing water, especially near electrical outlets, appliances or panels.
- Shut off the water when appropriate. For a burst or leaking supply line, close the main shutoff. (This won’t help with a sewer backup; for that, stop using water in the house until the line is cleared.)
- Avoid contact with sewage. Sewage carries bacteria and other contaminants. Keep people out of it, don’t try to clean it bare-handed, and wash thoroughly after any exposure.
- Document the damage. Take photos and video before cleanup for your records and any insurance claim.
- Call 911 for life-safety hazards. Rising floodwater, mudflow, downed power lines, a gas smell or anyone in danger is an emergency-services call, not a plumbing call. Follow evacuation orders from local authorities.
- Call PPS for plumbing emergencies. Burst pipes, active leaks, sewer backups and main-line stoppages are what we handle 24/7: (818) 790-7270.
For more on handling the first few minutes, see our guide to what to do in a plumbing emergency.
Prepare Before the Rain Arrives
The cheapest storm-season plumbing repair is the one you schedule in October. If you’ve had recurring clogs, a slow main line, documented roots or a leak you’ve been meaning to deal with, now is the time.
Prefer a regular schedule over one-off calls? Ask about our preventive plumbing maintenance. Manage a condo, HOA or apartment building? See our HOA & property management plumbing services.
Professional Plumbing Services Inc.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured · CSLB #1027398
24/7 Emergency Plumbing
Serving La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, Glendale and Burbank.
Call (818) 790-7270 to schedule a drain, sewer or plumbing inspection before the wet season.