Previous El Niño periods have been wet and destructive
The Seal Beach Municipal Pier was destroyed during the winter of 1982-1983.
(Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)
Marilyn Lane tries to shut a door as a wave rushes into her Solimar Beach home during a January 1998 storm.
(Alan Hagman / Los Angeles Times)
A surfer shoots the missing section of Seal Beach Municipal Pier, washed out by a 1983 storm.
(Cliff Otto / Los Angeles Times)
Mudslides after heavy rain destroyed property in Laguna Canyon in 1998.
(Alexander Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
The Ventura River overflowed after heavy rains in 1998, closing the 101 Freeway for several hours.
(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)
The Santa Monica Pier was wrecked during the winter of 1982-1983.
(Rick Meyer / Los Angeles Times)
Andy Harvey, a Ventura County sheriff’s search and rescue team member, swims to a partially submerged vehicle that washed down the Ventura River during in 1998. The vehicle turned out to be unoccupied.
(Steve Osman / Los Angeles Times)
An apartment building in Ventura collapsed after heavy rains in 1998.
(Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)