Safety · Sunday, October 11, 2026
Leftover tropical storm Rachel brings flash-flood and coastal-flood risk to Southern California and the Southwest
Added 8:35 a.m. ET, Oct. 11
The File desk · Oct 11, 2026, 12:35 PM UTC
Status
Confirmed. Figures come from the National Hurricane Center's 2 a.m. Pacific advisory 57 on Post-Tropical Cyclone Rachel, read on nhc.noaa.gov. Local warnings come from National Weather Service offices.
- Confirmed
At 2 a.m. Pacific Sunday, Rachel's remnants were about 60 miles east-northeast of San Diego with winds near 50 mph, moving north at 25 mph, and expected to dissipate by afternoon (advisory 57).
- Confirmed
The center forecasts 1 to 3 inches of rain, up to 5 in spots, from Southern California into the Great Basin and the Southwest, with potential for significant flash and urban flooding, and moderate to major coastal flooding along Southern California and northern Baja California (advisory 57).
What is left of Tropical Storm Rachel is moving north over Southern California, the National Hurricane Center says. It is weakening fast but carrying heavy rain: 1 to 3 inches, up to 5 in spots, from Southern California into the Great Basin and the Southwest. Forecasters warn of significant flash flooding and of moderate to major coastal flooding as big waves meet high tides.
At 2 a.m. Pacific, the storm's center was about 60 miles east-northeast of San Diego, moving north at 25 mph with winds near 50 mph. It should fall apart by this afternoon. Strong gusts are spreading over higher ground in the interior Southwest today and Monday.
Along the coast, waves are combining with a long southerly swell and water levels already running well above normal. The center expects coastal flooding and erosion to worsen at high tide, with dangerous surf and rip currents into early next week. Tropical storm warnings remain for parts of Baja California. People in the U.S. should follow their local National Weather Service office.
What is still unknown or disputed
- Where the heaviest rain will fall, and which places will flood.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Post-Tropical Cyclone Rachel Advisory Number 57
National Hurricane Center (NOAA) · October 11, 2026
...RACHEL CONTINUES TO BRING HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS TO PORTIONS OF BAJA CALIFORNIA AND THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES...
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2026/ep18/ep182026.public.057.shtml