Q: The West is enduring long-term drought conditions. However, I keep hearing about the wet weather condition called "El Nino." What is "El Nino" and how should I prepare my apartment building for its arrival?

A: El Ni–o is a weather pattern produced by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. The El Ni–o phenomenon is associated with extreme weather around the globe. In California, it typically means a wet winter with higher than normal rain levels. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a 60 percent chance that the El Ni–o conditions continue all year.

How do you prepare? Inspect your building's roofs, gutters, drains and flashing and trim overhanging trees. Don't wait for the wet season to find out that your roof is in poor condition. Get the work done now while it is dry and roofing companies are not as busy. Don't forget about large trees that hang over your roofs. 

Wet, windy weather can damage a roof if a limb breaks or a tree falls because of soggy soil. Flat roofs are especially vulnerable to blocked scuppers and roof drains. Backed-up water will find the slightest weakness in any roof system and even cause a roof to collapse. And maintain condition of flat-roof membranes.