A Historic El Niño May Be Coming. Is Your Parking Lot Ready?
California property owners know that winter weather can be unpredictable. This year, however, there’s a particularly good reason to start preparing early.
El Niño is strengthening in the Pacific, and current forecasts from NOAA indicate a greater than 90% chance that it will become a very strong event during the fall and winter of 2026–27. Current projections also suggest this El Niño could rank among the strongest events on record.
While no forecast can tell us exactly how much rain any individual Central Valley community will receive, the outlook favors wetter-than-normal conditions across California as winter progresses.
For commercial property owners and managers, that makes now a good time to pay attention to the condition of your pavement.
Because when it comes to asphalt, the problem isn't simply rain.
It's where the water goes.
Small Cracks Can Become Big Problems
A small crack in a parking lot may not seem particularly urgent during the dry months.
Once the rainy season arrives, that changes.
Cracks create an opportunity for water to penetrate beneath the pavement surface. As moisture reaches the underlying materials, it can contribute to weakening and deterioration of the pavement system.
Add vehicle traffic to an already compromised area and a relatively minor maintenance issue can eventually develop into larger cracking, potholes or pavement failure.
That's why addressing cracks early can be considerably easier than repairing the damage they may contribute to later.
Take a Look at Drainage Before the Rain Arrives
Standing water is another warning sign property owners shouldn't ignore.
Parking lots are designed to move water away from the pavement and toward appropriate drainage areas. When drainage isn't working properly, water can collect in low spots or remain on the pavement longer than it should.
Before a wet winter, walk your property and look for areas where you've seen water accumulate in previous storms.
Pay particular attention to:
Low or sunken areas of pavement
Cracking around drains
Damaged pavement near gutters and curbs
Existing potholes
Areas where water regularly pools
Cracks that have grown noticeably over the summer
Finding these issues before sustained rain arrives gives you more options for addressing them.
Crack Filling Is Preventative Maintenance
Not every crack means your parking lot needs major repairs.
When pavement is otherwise in serviceable condition, properly addressing cracks can help reduce the opportunity for water to enter the pavement structure.
Cal Coating offers hot-applied crack filling, cold-pour crack filling and crack routing depending on the needs and condition of the pavement.
The appropriate repair depends on the type of cracking and what's happening beneath the surface, which is why evaluating the pavement before simply covering a crack is important.
Don't Wait for a Storm to Find the Weak Spots
Heavy rain has a way of revealing problems that were easy to overlook during the summer.
A drainage issue becomes a large puddle.
A deteriorated area becomes a pothole.
A small crack becomes an entry point for water.
And suddenly something that could have been addressed as preventative maintenance becomes a larger repair.
With an unusually strong El Niño developing ahead of the 2026–27 winter, property owners have a good reason to inspect their pavement before the wettest part of the season arrives.
Prepare Now, Not After the Damage
No one can predict exactly what this winter will bring to an individual property.
But you don't need a weather forecast to identify existing cracks, drainage issues or deteriorated pavement.
Taking care of known problems before prolonged wet weather arrives can help protect your property and reduce the likelihood of more expensive repairs later.
Cal Coating Asphalt has served the Central Valley since 1988, providing asphalt repair and maintenance, crack filling, concrete, striping and ADA upgrades throughout the region.
Not sure whether your property is ready for winter? Let us take a look.
Call 800-339-4424 to request a free estimate.