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 night time, however because it moved in, its affect was already being felt alongside the West Coast.
A mix 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 Seaside, 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 Seaside in Orange County, which has been experiencing flooding since Friday.
Predominant drags like Balboa Boulevard in Newport Seaside and quite a few adjoining streets have been drenched in floodwaters.
The Metropolis of Newport Seaside declared a neighborhood emergency on Saturday in response to the flooding attributable to 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 extra assets as crews proceed working to guard houses, property and public security,” town mentioned in a press release on Saturday, including that elevated surf and “unusually excessive ocean water ranges” are anticipated to proceed by way of the weekend, with the best tides anticipated Sunday.
All the metropolis seashores and piers in Newport Seaside are closed till additional discover, town mentioned.
Autos traverse a flooded intersection in Newport Seaside, California, October 9, 2026. (Audra Giddings)
Audra Giddings
“Keep away from these areas. Flooding and unsafe situations pose critical security dangers,” town suggested residents in its assertion.
Tropical Storm Rachel turned post-tropical late Saturday night time about 80 miles south-southeast of San Diego. Nevertheless, its remnants and the separate system over the West will proceed to gas a flash flood risk throughout parts of the Southwest, in addition to carry tough surf and gusty winds, on Sunday and into Monday.
The flash flood risk is anticipated to proceed to unfold on Sunday, with the best danger to components of Southern California, northwest Arizona, southern Nevada, and southwest Utah, the place a stage 3 of 4 risk 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 way of Tuesday afternoon, warning of probably vital flooding and seashore erosion fueled partly by Tropical Storm Rachel’s remnants.
The Metropolis of Newport Seaside, California, is advising motorists to keep away from flooded streets within the coastal neighborhood, October 9, 2026.
Metropolis of Newport Seaside
The best concern is excessive tide by way of Sunday morning and swells from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel may 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 Seaside, Huntington Seaside and San Clemente — had been distributing sandbags to the general public on Sunday in preparation for potential flooding.
In Seal Seaside, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles, police reported that “because of elevated surf and coastal flooding issues” seashore parking heaps had been being closed on Sunday “as a precaution to guard life and property.”
Autos drive by way of a avenue flooded by the approaching Tropical Storm Rachel in Newport Seaside, California, October 9, 2026. Image taken with a mobile phone.
Sandra Stojanovic/Reuters
On Saturday, the outer bands from Tropical Storm Rachel introduced gusty winds and heavy rain to components 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 properly, inflicting remoted situations of flash flooding and particles movement.
Gusty winds additionally produced a mud storm close to Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday with near-zero visibility reported.
