California isn’t a place most Americans associate with tropical weather, but it’s taking a beating in 2026 from one of the most active eastern Pacific hurricane seasons in modern history.
For the second time ever, national forecasters issued a tropical storm watch for Southern California as Tropical Storm Rachel headed toward the region, bringing high tides, coastal flooding and drenching rain from Oct. 9-11. The first tropical storm watch was issued just three years earlier, for Hurricane Hilary.
kAm%96 &]$] @442D:@?2==J D66D 962GJ C2:? 7C@> E96 C6>?2?ED @7 !24:7:4 DE@C>D E92E A2DD @G6C |6I:4@ 2?5 EC2G6= :?E@ E96 &]$] $@FE9H6DE] qFE E96 a_ae D62D@? 92D 366? 5:776C6?E] %9C66 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2?@E96C\9FCC:42?6\;FDE\D:56DH:A65\92H2::\H9J\E96\:D=2?5D\FDF2=\7@C46\7:6=5\D66>D\E@\36\5@H?\:?\a_ae\ah`dacQm9FCC:42?6D 56=F865 w2H2::k^2m 2D E96J A2DD65 4=@D6 E@ E96 :D=2?5D[ 2 C2C6 6G6?E 7@C E92E DE2E6] p?5 :? $6AE6>36C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@C36D]4@>^D:E6D^2=:D@?5FC<66^a_ae^_h^_f^9FCC:42?6\>2C:6\3C:?8D\E6?\7@@E\H2G6D\2?5\7=@@5:?8\E@\D@FE96C?\42=:7@C?:2\A9@E@D^QmwFCC:42?6 |2C:6 49FC?65 FA 3:8 H2G6Dk^2m E92E 52>2865 @462?7C@?E 9@>6D ?62C {@D p?86=6D 367@C6 G66C:?8 2H2J 7C@> E96 4@2DE]k^Am
kAm#2496= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?94]?@22]8@G^2C49:G6^a_ae^6A`g^6A`ga_ae]5:D4FD]_de]D9E>=QmH62<6?65 E@ 2? 6IEC2EC@A:42= 4J4=@?6k^2m 367@C6 :ED =2?572== :? q2;2 r2=:7@C?:2[ 3FE :E 3C@F89E 9:89 H2G6D E@ $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<E=2]4@>^?6HD^=@42=\?6HD^=@?8\36249\2DD6DD:?8\52>286D\7C@>\EC@A:42=\DE@C>\C2496=\E9C62E\@7\A@H6C7F=\H2G6D\DE:==\?@E\@G6C^Qm52>2865 >@C6 4@2DE2= 9@>6Dk^2m 2?5 7=@@565 DEC66ED] xED C2:?72== 5C6?4965 4@>>F?:E:6D 7C@> $2? s:68@ E@ E96 56D6CE $@FE9H6DE 2?5 6G6? EC:886C65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<E?G]4@>^?6HD^G:56@\C2:?\7C@>\EC@A:42=\DE@C>\C2496=\42FD6D\7=@@5:?8\24C@DD\=2D\G682D\G2==6JQm7=@@5:?8 :? {2D '682Dk^2m]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQu=@@565 DEC66ED :? 2 4@2DE2= E@H?]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fedeed^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae`_`a\d_\5a`==C];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?mp? 6>6C86?4J G69:4=6 5C:G6D E9C@F89 4@2DE2= 7=@@5H2E6CD 2>:5 DEC@?8 H2G6D 2?5 9:89 E:56D 86?6C2E65 3J %C@A:42= $E@C> #2496= @? ~4E] h[ a_ae[ :? }6HA@CE q6249[ r2=:7] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^?6HD\A9@E@^:?\2?\26C:2=\G:6H\2?\6>6C86?4J\G69:4=6\5C:G6D\E9C@F89\?6HD\A9@E@^aahhcbfb`bQm|2C:@ %2>2^v6EEJ x>286D G:2 %96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@>^4:E2E:@?DnFD6CldFtJ0)@ppppyU2>Aj9=l6?Qmx DEF5J !24:7:4 9FCC:42?6Dk^2m] (9:=6 EC@A:42= DE@C> :>A24ED E@ r2=:7@C?:2 2C6 F?FDF2=[ E96J 2C6?’E F?AC64656?E65] t= }:ñ@ C2:D6D E96 C:D<D]k^Am
k9amr2=:7@C?:2’D 9:DE@CJ H:E9 EC@A:42= DE@C>Dk^9am
kAmw:DE@C:42==J[ $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2 92D D66? 2 76H 5:C64E 9:ED 7C@> EC@A:42= DE@C>D 2?5 ?F>6C@FD 42D6D @7 52>286 7C@> DJDE6>D E92E C6>2:?65 @77D9@C6]k^Am
kAm%@ 7:?5 E96 62C=:6DE <?@H? DE@C> E96C6[ H6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=D]2>6ED@4]@C8^G:6H^;@FC?2=D^32>D^gd^``^32>D\gd\``\`egh]A57Qm92G6 E@ EC2G6= 324< 2== E96 H2J E@ `gdgk^2m[ H96? 2 r2E68@CJ ` 9FCC:42?6[ D:>A=J <?@H? 2D E96 `gdg $2? s:68@ wFCC:42?6[ 3CFD965 E96 4@2DE @7 $2? s:68@ r@F?EJ 2?5 3C@F89E EC@A:42=\DE@C>\7@C46 H:?5D E@ E96 C68:@?] $2? s:68@ @7 E96 `gd_D 925 2 7C24E:@? @7 E96 A@AF=2E:@? :E 92D E@52J[ 3FE E96 DE@C> DE:== 42FD65 D:8?:7:42?E 52>286]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 H62<6C E92? E96 `gdg 9FCC:42?6[ E96 @?=J EC@A:42= DE@C> <?@H? E@ 92G6 >256 =2?572== @? E96 r2=:7@C?:2 4@2DE H2D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H62E96C]8@G^>65:2^HC9^@?=:?60AF3=:42E:@?D^%|D^%|\`hf]A57Qm`hbh EC@A:42= DE@C> E92E 9:E {@?8 q6249k^2m[ :? {@D p?86=6D r@F?EJ] xE 3C@F89E EC@A:42=\DE@C>\7@C46 H:?5D 24C@DD 2 =2C86 DH2E9 @7 $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2E:>6D]4@>^42=:7@C?:2^DE@CJ^a_`h\_g\a`^9FCC:42?6D\96C6\E96\4@C5@?2K@\E92E\=2D965\=@D\2?86=6DQm2=@?8 H:E9 @G6C c :?496D @7 C2:? :? D@>6 2C62Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm%92E DE@C> H2D 2 DFCAC:D6[ 2?5 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D (62E96C qFC62F – E96 AC64FCD@C E@ E96 >@56C? }2E:@?2= (62E96C $6CG:46 – @A6?65 2 $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2 @77:46 :? `hc_ :? C6DA@?D6] p a__c C6D62C49 A2A6C 9JA@E96D:K65 E92E :7 2 D:>:=2C DE@C> 9:E E96 C68:@? :? E96 >:5\a___D[ :E H@F=5 92G6 =:<6=J 42FD65 @G6C &$Sa__ >:==:@? :? 52>286 E@ E96 C68:@?]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 2 76H @E96C EC@A:42= DE@C>D :? E96 `hf_D 42>6 4=@D6 E@ 2 =2?572== :? r2=:7@C?:2[ 2== H62<6?65 @C 492?865 4@FCD6[ 2G@:5:?8 2 5:C64E 9:E] %9:D :?4=F56D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^EC@A:42=\DE@C>\9:=2CJ\A@F?5D\D@FE96C?\42=:7@C?:2\H:E9\962GJ\C2:?\7=2D9\7=@@5:?8\a``gehQmC6>?2?ED @7 wFCC:42?6 w:=2CJk^2m :? a_ab E92E H6C6 DE:== DEC@?8 6?@F89 E@ 42FD6 H:56DAC625 7=@@5:?8 :? $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2 2?5 5F>A k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?94]?@22]8@G^52E2^E4C^t!_ha_ab0w:=2CJ]A57Qm`_ :?496D @7 C2:? :? E96 >@F?E2:?Dk^2m]k^Am
kAmp 92?57F= @7 255:E:@?2= DJDE6>D E92E >256 =2?572== :? q2;2 r2=:7@C?:2 @C DE2J65 @77D9@C6 92G6 3C@F89E EC@A:42=\DE@C>\7@C46 H:?5D E@ E96 DE2E6[ :?4=F5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?94]?@22]8@G^52E2^E4C^t!`e`hhf0}@C2]A57QmwFCC:42?6 }@C2 :? `hhfk^2m]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@?[ >F=E:A=6 C646?E DE@C>D @G6C E96 @A6? @462? 92G6 86?6C2E65 DH6==D E92E 52>2865 A@CE 2?5 A:6C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 :? E96 C68:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?94]?@22]8@G^52E2^E4C^t!`ba_`c0|2C:6]A57Qm9FCC:42?6D |2C:6 :? a_ack^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<E=2]4@>^?6HD^=@42=\?6HD^9FCC:42?6\?2C52\42FD:?8\9:89\DFC7\2E\D@FE96C?\42=:7@C?:2\362496D^Qm}2C52 :? a_adk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^D9@CED^rxt06G"%KBDQm2?@E96C |2C:6 :? a_aek^2m]k^Am
k9amt= }:ñ@ C2:D6D r2=:7@C?:2’D DE@C> C:D<k^9am
kAm$6G6C2= 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 724E@CD :?4C62D6 E96 AC@323:=:EJ @7 EC@A:42= DE@C>D >2<:?8 2? 2AAC@249 E@ $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2]k^Am
kAm%96 >@DE ?@E23=6 :D t= }:ñ@] %9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^J@FEF]36^(!p\zA=5s'4nD:lz{9a5_6pB_f{:9\_Qm?2EFC2= 4=:>2E6 A2EE6C?k^2m[ 567:?65 3J F?FDF2==J H2C> H2E6C :? E96 62DE6C? EC@A:42= !24:7:4[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^a_aeD\6=\?:?@\:D\D92A:?8\FA\E@\36\2\5@@KJ\:ED\2=C625J\27764E:?8\8=@32=\D9:AA:?8\7:D9\3692G:@C\2?5\962E\ah`ch_Qm:?4C62D6D E96 7C6BF6?4J @7 DE@C>Dk^2m :? E96 62DE6C? }@CE9 !24:7:4] %92E’D 3642FD6 H2C>6C E92? ?@C>2= D62 DFC7246 E6>A6C2EFC6D :? E96 C68:@? 2C6 ?646DD2CJ E@ DFAA@CE E96 7@C>2E:@? 2?5 56G6=@A>6?E @7 E96D6 DE@C>D]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQp >2A D9@HD DE@C> EC24<D[ :?4=F5:?8 #2496= 4C@DD:?8 E96 q2;2 !6?:?DF=2 2?5 6?E6C:?8 r2=:7@C?:2]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fedeb_^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae`_`a\d_\2d3D:a]A?8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?m$E@C> EC24<D 5FC:?8 2? 6I46AE:@?2==J 24E:G6 62DE6C? !24:7:4 9FCC:42?6 D62D@? :? a_ae D9@H E96 C6>?2?ED @7 %C@A:42= $E@C> #2496=[ }@] `g[ 4C@DD:?8 :?E@ r2=:7@C?:2] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?94]?@22]8@G^52E2^E4C^:?56I]A9An32D:?l6A24Qm}~ppk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmtG6? 5FC:?8 t= }:ñ@ J62CD[ E96 H2E6CD @77 E96 4@2DE @7 $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2 2?5 ?@CE96C? q2;2 r2=:7@C?:2 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@DA@]?@22]8@G^AC@5F4ED^@462?^DDE^4@?E@FC^QmEJA:42==J E@@ 4@@=k^2m E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@462?6IA=@C6C]?@22]8@G^@462?\724E^9FCC:42?6D^QmDFAA@CE 9FCC:42?6Dk^2m] $E:==[ DE@C>D >@G:?8 72DE 6?@F89 @C H:E9 6?@F89 DFAA@CE 7C@> FAA6C\=6G6= H:?5D 42? DFCG:G6 E96D6 D=:89E=J 4@@=6C E6>A6C2EFC6D[ 2==@H:?8 E96 DJDE6> E@ >2<6 2? 2AAC@249 E@H2C5 r2=:7@C?:2]k^Am
kAm(96? %C@A:42= $E@C> #2496= 3682? :ED 2AAC@249 E@H2C5 $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2 @? ~4E] h[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?94]?@22]8@G^2C49:G6^a_ae^6A`g^6A`ga_ae]5:D4FD]_d`]D9E>=Qm}2E:@?2= wFCC:42?6 r6?E6C ?@E65k^2m E92E E96 D62 DFC7246 E6>A6C2EFC6D H6C6 2?@>2=@FD=J H2C> @77 E96 4@2DE @7 q2;2 r2=:7@C?:2 2?5 A=2J65 2 C@=6 :? :ED A@E6?E:2= E@ C6>2:? 2 EC@A:42= 4J4=@?6 2D :E 2AAC@24965 E96 4@2DE]k^Am
k9am%96 3:8 DE@C> AC@3=6>i #2:?k^9am
kAm{:<6 >@DE 62DE6C? !24:7:4 EC@A:42= DE@C>D 2?5 9FCC:42?6D[ E96 AC:>2CJ 67764E @? r2=:7@C?:2 7C@> E96D6 DJDE6>D :D C2:?72==]k^Am
kAm|@DE @7 $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2 :D 2C:5 2?5 C2C6=J C646:G6D C2:?72== 5FC:?8 DF>>6C 2?5 62C=J 72==] t2C=J C6A@CED D9@H65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@C642DE]H62E96C]8@G^AC@5F4E]A9AnD:E6lD8IU2>Aj:DDF653Jl$v)U2>AjAC@5F4El##|Qm#2496= 5F>A65 FAH2C5 @7 e :?496D @7 C2:?k^2m :? A2CED @7 $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2[ :?4=F5:?8 @G6C ` :?49 2E $2? s:68@ x?E6C?2E:@?2= p:CA@CE :? @?6 H66<6?5] %92E :?49 @7 C2:? :? $2? s:68@ :D 5@F3=6 E96 EJA:42= ~4E@36C AC64:A:E2E:@? E96C6]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E9@D6 2>@F?ED >2J D66> >:?FD4F=6 4@>A2C65 E@ H92E EJA:42==J 4@>6D H:E9 2 EC@A:42= DE@C> @C 9FCC:42?6 =2?572== :? A=246D =:<6 u=@C:52[ E96J 42? 42FD6 7=2D9 7=@@5:?8 :? E96 ?@C>2==J 5CJ $@FE9H6DE] %96 }2E:@?2= wFCC:42?6 r6?E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?94]?@22]8@G^2C49:G6^a_ae^6A`g^6A`ga_ae]AF3=:4]_db]D9E>=QmH2C?65 @7 7=2D9 7=@@5:?8k^2m :? r2=:7@C?:2 2?5 @E96C A2CED @7 E96 $@FE9H6DE 367@C6 #2496=’D =2?572==]k^Am
kAm&?:BF6 42D6D =:<6 #2496= D9@H E92E |@E96C }2EFC6 42? 2=H2JD 8@ 282:?DE 4@?G6?E:@?2= H:D5@>[ 2?5[ 8:G6? 6?@F89 E:>6 2?5 E96 C:89E 4@?5:E:@?D[ A@E6?E:2==J 56DECF4E:G6 E9:?8D 42? 92AA6?]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahca_fQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^?:49@=2D\8C@?5:?\`_cfbd_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahca_fQm}:49@=2D vC@?5:?k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:G6CD:EJ\@7\E2>A2\bhcenFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahca_fQm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 %2>A2k^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2?@E96C\9FCC:42?6\;FDE\D:56DH:A65\92H2::\H9J\E96\:D=2?5D\FDF2=\7@C46\7:6=5\D66>D\E@\36\5@H?\:?\a_ae\ah`dacnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahca_fQmp?@E96C 9FCC:42?6 ;FDE D:56DH:A65 w2H2:: – H9J E96 :D=2?5D’ FDF2= 7@C46 7:6=5 D66>D E@ 36 5@H? :? a_aek^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^9@H\>F49\C2:?\42?\2\9FCC:42?6\>2<6\2?5\5@6D\E96\DE@C>\D:K6\>2EE6C\ahbhhfnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahca_fQmw@H >F49 C2:? 42? 2 9FCC:42?6 >2<6[ 2?5 5@6D E96 DE@C> D:K6 >2EE6Cnk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H6\3=2DE65\>@3:=6\9@>6D\H:E9\9FCC:42?6\7@C46\H:?5D\E@\E6DE\9@H\E96J\72:=\2?5\7@F?5\4=F6D\7@C\>2<:?8\277@C523=6\9@FD:?8\D276C\aha_fcnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahca_fQm(6 3=2DE65 >@3:=6 9@>6D H:E9 9FCC:42?6‑7@C46 H:?5D E@ E6DE 9@H E96J 72:= – 2?5 7@F?5 4=F6D 7@C >2<:?8 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 D276Ck^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m}:49@=2D vC@?5:? 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^ahca_f^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.