40 New Year's Day flights were diverted away from San Diego after a storm hit the city

The San Diego River overflowed on New Year's Day.

K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images

• San Diego Airport faced significant disruption to flooding and an equipment outage.
• Dozens of flights were canceled or diverted, and over 130 were delayed.
• A flight from Japan had to divert to Los Angeles before taking off again hours later.

Thousands of people flying into or out of San Diego on New Year's Day had their travel plans disrupted after a rainstorm hit the city.