The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel are moving inland, bringing significant flooding risks to the Southern California coast. Despite a downgrade in the storm's official status, authorities warn of continued danger from high tides and heavy rainfall through Tuesday.
The "super" El Niño threat looming over California
The combination of warm ocean water and low atmospheric pressure is creating a volatile environment for the Southern California coastline. According to Joe Sirard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Oxnard, south-facing beaches are particularly vulnerable to these specific conditions. This weather pattern arrives as meteorologists prepare for a potentially "super" El Niño winter,which could exacerbate the challenges faced by coastal communities.
National Weather Service meteorologist Daniel Berc warned on Sunday morning that the region is "not out of the woods yet." Even as the system's maximum sustained winds dropped to 35 mph, the National Hurricane Center noted that seawater would continue to batter the coast, creating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Collapsing homes and destroyed boardwalks in Long Beach
Severe coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion have already caused significant property damage in Long Beach. A two-story yellow house on Seaside Walk began to collapse on Sunday after waves engulfed its wooden deck and a balcony broke off at a 30-degree angle toward the water. Inside the residence, saltwater poured into rooms where debris, an upturned refrigerator, and a television were strewn about.
In an effort to mitigate further damage, workers on the Long Beach Peninsula, including groundskeeper Robert Quinonez, raced to build sand berms to prevent water from spilling into the streets. The work follows a Saturday where tides swept away a portion of the historic wooden boardwalk in the area. As reported by the National Weather Service, coastal flooding remains a primary threat for beaches in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties through midweek.
Record rainfall in Las Vegas and debris on Highway 74
The storm's remnants have moved well beyond the coast, triggering record-breaking weather in the desert Southwest. As reported by the National Weather Service, Las Vegas recorded 1.08 inches of rain since midnight on Sunday, breaking the daily record for October 11. The deluge also caused flood water to submerge the parking lot of a casino located on the Las Vegas Strip.
In the Coachella Valley, rainfall caused significant hazards on major roadways. Meteorologist Kyle Wheeler noted that a flow of rocks, mud, and debris blanketed both the eastbound and westbound lanes of California 74 near Mile Marker 89, located approximately six miles south of Palm Desert.. The storm is expected to bring total rainfall between 1 and 3 inches across the region, with some areas seeing up to 5 inches.
The gap between NWS classifications and resident experiences
Official meteorological classifications are facing scrutiny from residents who experienced the storm's intensity firsthand. While the National Hurricane Center has wound down its coverage after downgrading Rachel, local resident Alphonso Tubbs described the event as "definitely a hurricane" rather than a tropical storm. Tubbs claimed he witnessed water levels rise as high as 12 to 15 feet during the surge.
It remains unclear how much more structural damage will occur as the system moves through the Great Basin. While the heaviest rain may have passed, the National Weather Service indicates that spotty rain and high tides will continue to impact the Southwest for several days.
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