The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel, together with a separate storm system over the Western United States, continued to brush throughout the West on Sunday, fueling flooding in a number of Southern California coastal communities.
Publish-Tropical Storm Rachel made landfall in Baja California Saturday evening, however because it moved in, its influence was already being felt alongside the West Coast.
A mixture of enormous ocean swells stirred up by Rachel and extended swells due partly to an El Niño-enhanced Kelvin wave has produced main flooding alongside Southern California’s coast.
In an aerial view, folks stroll close to coastal floodwaters amid sturdy waves and excessive tides generated by Tropical Storm Rachel, October 9, 2026, in Newport Seashore, California. An rising El Niño and oceanic Kelvin wave shifting up the shoreline have compounded situations within the area.
Mario Tama/Getty Photos
One of many hardest-hit areas has been Newport Seashore in Orange County, which has been experiencing flooding since Friday.
Predominant drags like Balboa Boulevard in Newport Seashore and quite a few adjoining streets have been drenched in floodwaters.
The Metropolis of Newport Seashore declared an area emergency on Saturday in response to the flooding brought on by Tropical Storm Rachel.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel are fueling flood threats, October 11, 2026, alongside the Southern California coast and in a number of Western states.
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“This declaration will assist the Metropolis safe further sources as crews proceed working to guard properties, property and public security,” town stated in an announcement on Saturday, including that elevated surf and “unusually excessive ocean water ranges” are anticipated to proceed by the weekend, with the very best tides anticipated Sunday.
The entire metropolis seashores and piers in Newport Seashore are closed till additional discover, town stated.
Automobiles traverse a flooded intersection in Newport Seashore, California, October 9, 2026. (Audra Giddings)
Audra Giddings
“Keep away from these areas. Flooding and unsafe situations pose severe security dangers,” town suggested residents in its assertion.
Tropical Storm Rachel turned post-tropical late Saturday evening about 80 miles south-southeast of San Diego. Nevertheless, its remnants and the separate system over the West will proceed to gasoline a flash flood menace throughout parts of the Southwest, in addition to convey tough surf and gusty winds, on Sunday and into Monday.
The flash flood menace is predicted to proceed to unfold on Sunday, with the best danger to elements of Southern California, northwest Arizona, southern Nevada, and southwest Utah, the place a degree 3 of 4 menace for flash flooding is in place.
The Nationwide Climate Service issued a coastal flood warning for Orange County seashores that begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday and continues by Tuesday afternoon, warning of probably important flooding and seashore erosion fueled partly by Tropical Storm Rachel’s remnants.
The Metropolis of Newport Seashore, California, is advising motorists to keep away from flooded streets within the coastal neighborhood, October 9, 2026.
Metropolis of Newport Seashore
The best concern is excessive tide by Sunday morning and swells from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel might create harmful situations with seashore erosion and seawater as soon as once more flooding seashore roads and paths.
Different cities alongside the Southern California coast — together with Laguna Seashore, Huntington Seashore and San Clemente — had been distributing sandbags to the general public on Sunday in preparation for attainable flooding.
In Seal Seashore, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles, police reported that “resulting from elevated surf and coastal flooding considerations” seashore parking tons had been being closed on Sunday “as a precaution to guard life and property.”
Automobiles drive by a avenue flooded by the approaching Tropical Storm Rachel in Newport Seashore, California, October 9, 2026. Image taken with a cellular phone.
Sandra Stojanovic/Reuters
On Saturday, the outer bands from Tropical Storm Rachel introduced gusty winds and heavy rain to elements of Southern California and Arizona.
Wind gusts of over 60 mph had been reported throughout thunderstorms that hit Menifee and Temecula, California. Heavy rain of as much as 1 to 2 inches was reported with these storms as nicely, inflicting remoted cases of flash flooding and particles movement.
Gusty winds additionally produced a mud storm close to Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday with near-zero visibility reported.
