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Rare Tropical Storm Watch Issued for San Diego County

By Drooid · Oct 11, 2026, 2:33 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

National Weather Service Watch

U.S. National Weather Service issued a rare tropical storm watch for San Diego County.
The storm Rachel could make landfall near the U.S.-Mexico border in northern Baja Saturday night.
Forecasts call for 0.75-1.5 inches rain on coastal San Diego and up to 3 inches in mountains.
Coastal flood warning runs until 3 p.m. Sunday, with surf 5-9 feet and tides 7-9 feet.

Summary

Jurjis Declares Emergency

City Manager Seimone Jurjis declared a local emergency in Newport Beach to secure additional resources.
Newport Beach received 30,000 sandbags—10,000 on Friday and 20,000 later—with help from Costa Mesa.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson ordered evacuation of homes on Seaside Walk between 64th and 66th Place.
San Diego Gas & Electric chief Kevin Geraghty confirmed crews and equipment are ready for power or gas outages.

History

Historical Context

In September 1939 a tropical storm (El Cordonazo) struck near Long Beach, delivering up to 6.5 inches of rain, killing 45 people in Southern California and causing $2 million in damage. The disaster spurred the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Weather Bureau to develop sand-bag stockpiles and a southern-California forecast office in February 1940. Today’s San Diego watch and sand-bag deliveries echo those early emergency measures.

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National Weather Service Watch

U.S. National Weather Service issued a rare tropical storm watch for San Diego County.
The storm Rachel could make landfall near the U.S.-Mexico border in northern Baja Saturday night.
Forecasts call for 0.75-1.5 inches rain on coastal San Diego and up to 3 inches in mountains.
Coastal flood warning runs until 3 p.m. Sunday, with surf 5-9 feet and tides 7-9 feet.

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