Rachel’s Remnants Could Bring Rain and Coastal Flooding

The remnants of Hurricane Rachel could bring rain, strong winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding to Southern California and parts of the Southwest from the weekend into early next week, forecasters said. Rachel was weakening over the Pacific, and its eventual track and the severity and distribution of the impacts remained uncertain on Thursday, October 8. The National Hurricane Center said Rachel-related swells would build along Southern California and northern Baja California through the weekend, likely creating life-threatening surf and rip currents. Forecasters also warned of beach erosion and flooding risks, especially where elevated tides coincide with waves and storm swell. The National Hurricane Center’s model put a possible landfall range from Orange County to Punta Colonet, while Google Weather Lab projected a location south of Ensenada. Those were forecasts, not confirmed landfalls. The storm’s moisture, rather than hurricane-force winds, was expected to be the main concern for California. Reports described Rachel weakening and losing tropical characteristics as it approached the coast.