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Tropical Storm Rachel Floods Southern California With Up to Six Inches

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 12:36 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Tropical Storm Rachel produced high tides, flooding and heavy rain in Southern California Oct. 9-11, 2026.
The storm dropped up to six inches of rain, double the October average.
High waves damaged coastal homes despite Rachel weakening to an extratropical cyclone before Baja landfall.
The National Hurricane Center issued the second tropical-storm watch for Southern California, after Hurricane Hilary in 2023.
El Niño-driven warm sea-surface temperatures off Baja helped Rachel remain tropical near the coast.

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Story summary

Tropical Storm Rachel produced high tides, flooding and heavy rain in Southern California Oct. 9-11, 2026.
The storm dropped up to six inches of rain, double the October average.
High waves damaged coastal homes despite Rachel weakening to an extratropical cyclone before Baja landfall.
The National Hurricane Center issued the second tropical-storm watch for Southern California, after Hurricane Hilary in 2023.
El Niño-driven warm sea-surface temperatures off Baja helped Rachel remain tropical near the coast.