Tropical Storm Rachel Could Bring Rain and High Surf to San Diego

There is a particular rarity in a tropical storm approaching California—a phenomenon so uncommon that it has happened only a handful of times in recorded history, and one that carries with it a sense of the unusual, the unexpected, the way the atmosphere can surprise even those who study it. This weekend, Tropical Storm Rachel is expected to bring rain, high surf, and the possibility of coastal flooding to San Diego and Southern California, a region more accustomed to drought than to tropical moisture .

The storm, currently churning off the coast of Mexico, is forecast to weaken before making landfall in northern Baja California late Saturday night. But its remnants—a plume of tropical moisture absorbed by a low-pressure system—will move northeastward into Southern California, bringing rain from late Saturday through Monday . Rainfall totals could range from half an inch to two inches, with the highest amounts in the mountains. On the highest peaks, there is a chance of snow Monday night .

What makes this storm particularly notable is the combination of hazards it brings. The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory for beaches in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, and San Diego counties through Tuesday afternoon. Elevated tides in the six-and-a-half to seven-foot range, combined with increased surf from the storm, will raise the risk of coastal flooding and beach erosion. Swimming conditions will be dangerous, with strong rip currents and longshore currents . A beach hazards statement is also in effect .

The storm arrives after an intense autumn heat wave that brought record highs across the region. The cooler temperatures and rain will be a sharp contrast, and forecasters say the system should be out of the area by Sunday night into Monday. A secondary system could bring additional rain early next week, keeping showers in the forecast through Tuesday .

For residents, the advice is to monitor forecasts closely, as the storm's track will determine the extent of impacts. Those in flood-prone areas should know where to get sandbags, and coastal residents should prepare for potential flooding . Tropical systems reaching California are rare—the last such event was Tropical Storm Hilary in 2023—but they are not unprecedented, and their impacts can be significant even as they weaken . The rain is coming. The surf is rising. And Southern California, for a weekend, will feel a little more tropical than usual.

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Sources: USA Today, NBC 7 San Diego, National Weather Service, New York Post, Charlotte Observer