Tropical Storm Marie to Become Hurricane, Bring Surf to California

Tropical Storm Marie is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, as it moves northwest off the coast of Mexico. While the National Hurricane Center states the chance of a direct strike on Southern California remains very low, the storm is expected to send dangerous surf and potential rainfall to the region over the Labor Day weekend. The National Weather Service said swells generated by Marie will affect the coasts of southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula for the next few days before spreading northward to Southern California. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Forecasters indicated the biggest surf will impact beaches from Oceanside northward, with the most significant waves expected to build starting late Friday and continuing through the weekend. The National Weather Service noted there is a 50 to 60 percent chance of widespread light rainfall from Sunday through Tuesday, with a 10 to 15 percent chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Moisture from the storm is expected to be drawn into Southern California during the holiday weekend, even if the storm's center remains offshore.