Californians have experienced unusual stormy weather patterns these past few weeks as predicted by weather reports during the last quarter of 2015. El Niño has taken its toll throughout Southern California, causing floods, power outages and slippery roads.

Despite the weather conditions, Cathedral Catholic High School students and faculty members found ways to deal with the inclement weather.

In Del Mar, temperatures dipped to as low as 40 degrees. Harsh winds and heavy rain surprised students during school hours as well as after school.

“Many students came in late but were of course excused because the weather was just crazy,” Mrs. Marisa Rogers, attendance secretary, said.

With El Niño in full effect, students took longer than usual to get to school, leaving a large amount of students late to class.

“I haven’t been driving for too long, so trying to get to school in those conditions was super hard and scary,” Lexi Dorn ’16 said.

Some parents called the attendance office explaining their hesitance in letting their child drive to school in the heavy rain. Many students who drove to school were held back by the traffic El Niño’s non-stop rain caused.

“Driving all the way from El Cajon was tiring as I was trying to see the road with such harsh rain,” Alonso Lizarraga ‘16 said. “I needed to be extra cautious and alert.”

Storm damage was yet another effect of El Niño. A couple of students’ homes were flooded, preventing some families getting outside of the house, going to work or attending school. Julia Gilbert ‘18 is one of those students whose house was damaged by flooding.

“We knew the El Niño was going to be way different than the weather we’re used to, but we were not expecting this at all,” Gilbert said.

Driving in the rain is risky business for adult and teen drivers alike. In fact, one of the teachers on campus, Ms. Kristin Brandeberry, was in Fashion Valley when water flooded the mall in a matter of 30 minutes.

Ms. Brandeberry went to the Apple Store to repair her phone and noticed about three inches of water flooding the first floor of the mall. As she was exiting the mall, Ms. Brandeberry noticed a vehicle up to the windows in water.

In her opinion, “the scariest part was all of that happened in 30 minutes – I went into the store and when I came out cars were stuck and the mall was flooded,” Ms. Brandeberry said.  

According to The Weather Channel, rain will not be returning until late next week. Students and faculty members will not have to worry about driving through El Niño’s showers, being late to school or flash flooding.