Tropical Storm Rachel forces beach closures and flooding in Southern California

Tropical Storm Rachel brought severe coastal flooding and high ocean waves to Southern California on Saturday. According to the Daily Mail and UPI, the storm prompted local officials in Newport Beach to close all city beaches and piers. The Daily Mail reported that City Manager Seimone Jurjis enacted the emergency measures as rising tides and high surf threatened residents in Orange County. [1][2]

The Daily Mail noted that Tropical Storm Rachel developed maximum sustained winds of up to 60 mph. UPI reported that the storm shifted direction to move back toward the coasts of Southern California and Mexico, placing the center about 391 miles southwest of Punta Baja, Mexico. High surf combined with elevated tides has damaged beachfront properties and driven residents out of nearby Long Beach, according to the Los Angeles Times. [1][2][5]

The storm follows an earlier trajectory tracked by local authorities. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Rachel shifted course while carrying maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, prompting Newport Beach to declare a local emergency as water flooded coastal streets. Long Beach is a coastal city located in southeastern Los Angeles County. [12][14]

Weather forecasters issued rare warnings across the region ahead of the storm. The Weather Channel and Weather West both reported that Rachel prompted a tropical storm watch for Southern California as the system approached San Diego, ending an autumn heatwave and bringing heavy rainfall to the West Coast. [4][6][7]