Southern California braces for rain and flooding as Post-Tropical Storm Rachel moves inland
Post-Tropical Storm Rachel made landfall in northern Baja California and is expected to bring rain, high tides and flood risks to coastal communities in Southern California through early next week.
Southern California is preparing for rain and coastal flooding as Post-Tropical Storm Rachel, which made landfall in northern Baja California with sustained winds of 60 mph, moves through the region. The National Weather Service forecasts a strong chance of rain on Sunday and Monday, with totals of less than an inch for Los Angeles and higher amounts inland. A Flood Watch has been issued for the mountains and deserts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties and for San Diego County.
Long Beach officials reported that waves on Friday overtopped the bulkhead, sending water into homes and streets. Mayor Rex Richardson said eight buildings at 13 addresses received red tags, indicating they are unsafe to enter, and one received a yellow tag, limiting its use. Richardson urged residents to “take this seriously and be prepared.” City manager Tom Modica said the city will seek state and federal assistance and expects a recovery period lasting several months.
The city has imposed a mandatory evacuation order for homes on Seaside Walk between 64th and 66th places, effective from Friday evening through Tuesday noon, and is deploying sandbags and timber to reinforce damaged sections of the bulkhead and boardwalk. Huntington Beach activated its emergency operations center, while Newport Beach temporarily closed some beach areas.
The National Weather Service’s San Diego office warned that low-lying properties could flood as high tide at Newport Beach is projected to reach 7.6 feet on Sunday morning, with surf heights of 6 to 9 feet along south-facing beaches. Water at the Los Angeles Harbor tide gauge peaked at 7.7 feet Saturday, about 1.6 feet above the predicted tide, and projected Sunday high tides of around 8 feet could approach or exceed recent records for the county.
Historically, only two tropical-strength storms have crossed the state. The 1939 “El Cordonazo” storm caused extensive flooding and fatalities, while the 1997 Nora storm produced street flooding and beach damage but spared the region from severe impacts. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center noted a near-certain chance that the current El Niño will be classified as “very strong,” with an 83 % probability of becoming the strongest on record since 1950.