Pasadena is mobilizing three city departments to prepare for what federal forecasters say could be the strongest El Niño winter since at least 1950.

The Municipal Services Committee will hear a presentation on the city's storm-season plans at its 5 p.m. meeting Tuesday, Sept. 22, at City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave., as Pasadena Now first reported. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center said Sept. 10 there is a 75% chance the October-through-December period will produce a historic event exceeding every El Niño on record. NOAA put the odds of a very strong event this fall and winter above 90%.

Councilmember Justin Jones, who chairs the committee and represents District 3, requested the agenda item. "I asked for this agenda item because our residents and local business owners deserve to know that Pasadena is prepared," Jones said.

The plan coordinates the Pasadena Fire Department, the Department of Public Works and Pasadena Water and Power (PWP). Public Works crews will clean and inspect catch basins, examine known problem drains and monitor hillside areas before, during and after storms. The department plans to stage K-rails, barricades and portable message boards where conditions warrant. Road closures would be coordinated with police, fire and transportation staff.

PWP will inspect utility poles, transformers and underground pumping equipment and accelerate vegetation trimming around critical high-voltage lines. The utility will also check substations for flood risk, with particular attention to facilities near recent burn areas. PWP plans to review mutual-aid agreements and set restoration priorities for hospitals and other essential services.

On the water side, crews will inspect reservoirs, test mobile generators and prepare spreading grounds for high stream flows. The utility may pre-fill reservoirs and stage crews ahead of forecast storms.

The threat extends beyond city limits. Los Angeles County crews are removing as much as 1.3 million cubic yards of sediment from reservoirs including Devil's Gate Dam in Pasadena, the Los Angeles Times reported. That volume would fill the Rose Bowl about three times. L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the storm threat is particularly concerning near wildfire burn scars in Altadena.

The city is also coordinating with the National Weather Service, L.A. County emergency officials, neighboring cities and the American Red Cross on forecast calls, tabletop exercises and shelter training. L.A. County is holding a virtual meeting on Monday, Sept. 28, to discuss its own El Niño preparations and take questions from residents.

What residents should do

City officials urge residents to prepare to manage for 72 hours without help from first responders. That means assembling emergency kits, clearing gutters and drainage areas, and checking properties for flood risk. Sandbags are at Fire Stations 37 and 38.

Residents can register for Pasadena's Local Emergency Alert System and look up evacuation zones through Genasys Protect. The city has held five Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes in 2026.

A preparedness workshop is set for Monday, Sept. 28, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Children ages 5 and older may attend with a parent. Additional Prepared Pasadena events follow on Nov. 7 and Dec. 5.

The Wednesday committee meeting is informational, but members may take action on the item. The committee also includes Councilmembers Rick Cole, Tyron Hampton and Jason Lyon.