Tropical Storm Rachel expected to bring rain and wind to Southern California and Baja

Tropical Storm Rachel is projected to strike near Tijuana late Saturday night, bringing heavy rain and wind gusts above 40 mph to Southern California. The National Hurricane Center said the storm, currently just below hurricane strength, will retain its tropical structure as it approaches the coast, a rarity for California since 1939.

Rainfall is expected to begin Saturday afternoon in San Diego and later that night in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, with widespread amounts exceeding one inch from San Diego to Las Vegas and isolated totals of two to three inches in some locations. The storm is forecast to weaken after landfall, but will continue to produce flooding rains and strong winds across western Arizona and into Nevada through Sunday, with moisture reaching the Salt Lake City region by Monday.

Officials noted that the strongest winds will likely affect rugged terrain and the Mojave Desert on the storm’s east side, while the broader region could experience sporadic gusts and showers as the system dissipates.