Although the promised epic storms of El Niño have not come to fruition, the threat of future storms still lingers as does their menace to ambitious downtown construction projects.

The Los Angeles Downtown News reported Wednesday that developers are being encouraged by the city’s Department of Building and Safety to take a variety of precautionary steps in coming months, as meteorologists predict that Southern California will be doused by a string of El Niño storms.

Different projects in various stages of construction face a variety of challenges. Developments in the excavation stage risk having dirt turned to mud. Days of rain can soak construction sites and make work all but impossible, particularly on projects that utilize wood construction. Crews building high-rises where a roof has yet to be installed are forced to take temporary steps to protect interiors.