We were interested in cataloguing specific damage that could help us understand why certain places are regularly damaged by weather effects. The initial aim was a database made from information collected from local newspapers. Morales Santos: The Monitor came about as part of a larger academic project focused on strategies for climate change adaptation in the region. HCN: How did the Citizens’ Flood Monitor start? Within 12 hours, the streets start to fill with water. One of the most important is that the city doesn’t have a system of drainage for rainwater that is separate from the drainage system for homes and industry, which means that whenever it rains, the system gets saturated. But we’re here, which over time has created problems. It’s a city surrounded by canyons, hills and other landforms - the least auspicious place for human settlement imaginable. High Country News: Why is Tijuana so vulnerable to flooding?Įduardo Morales Santos: In Tijuana, urban growth and flooding go hand-in-hand. It has been translated and edited for length and clarity. HCN spoke with two of the Flood Monitor’s researchers, Gloria Muñoz and Eduardo Morales Santos, about the possibilities and limits of community-sourced data collection, and how filling in the gaps in scientific knowledge and media coverage with crowd-sourced information can help us rethink and expand our understanding of climate impacts. It also has a human side, responding personally to queries and directing people to resources.įoto cortesía del Monitor Ciudadano de Inundaciones de Tijuana Now, the Flood Monitor acts as a platform to interpret technical weather and climate data for a wide public. To address this, in early 2015, researchers at Mexico’s Colegio de la Frontera Norte started the Tijuana Citizens’ Flood Monitor, which combines information about past flood-related damages gleaned from newspapers with constantly updated crowd-sourced information about flooding, landslides and other weather-related impacts. In addition to infrastructure, Tijuana lacks the fine-grained governmental climate data necessary to predict future weather-related damages. In 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would spend $630 million to stop these cross-border sewage flows. Tijuana’s floods, which are exacerbated by a lack of sufficient drainage infrastructure, have a direct impact on the Western U.S., too: When Tijuana’s floodwaters mix with sewage and trash, they carry that waste to California via the Tijuana River, creating health risks and causing beach closures. These problems are nothing new for the residents of flood-prone Tijuana, Baja California. Climate catastrophes are increasing faster than governmental data or aid can keep up. In California, recent flooding events have overwhelmed drainage infrastructure, displacing thousands of residents and revealing gaps in the state and federal disaster response. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.Este artículo también está disponible en español. On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 6 to 9 times per month. The average high during this season is between 50.5☏ (10.3☌) and 39.5☏ (4.2☌).

Weather is too cold this time of year in Media to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced. It rains or snows a significant amount: 5 to 7 days per month. Fall (September through November)įall daily highs range from 86.2☏ (30.1☌) and 53.3☏ (11.8☌), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Media, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual. These months see moderate precipitation with 6 to 8 days of precipitation per month. The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Rain is somewhat common with roughly 7 days of significant precipitation per month. Highs range from 85.6☏ (29.8☌) and 47.3☏ (8.5☌) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Overall Media Travel Experience by Season Spring (March through May)

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