Tropical Storm Rachel is triggering a rare tropical storm watch in Southern California as forecasters warn of severe coastal flooding, high surf, and heavy rainfall. Newport Beach declared a local emergency on October 9, 2026, after ocean waters breached shoreline barriers and inundated residential streets.
Southern California is facing an unusual weekend weather threat as Tropical Storm Rachel threatens a rare landfall in the region. Spinning hundreds of miles off the coast of San Diego, the storm is behaving unexpectedly by maintaining or even picking up strength while moving over abnormally warm Pacific waters. Forecasters note that the system is approaching Southern California as a post-tropical cyclone, retaining a deep plume of tropical moisture that brings serious flood and wind hazards to coastal and desert communities alike.
Emergency Declared in Newport Beach as Tides Exceed Predictions
In Newport Beach, the combination of an overlapping south swell, hurricane-driven waves, and abnormally high tides sent salt water rushing into the streets on Friday morning, October 9, 2026. The flooding hit the low-lying Balboa Peninsula particularly hard, where seawater spilled over sand barriers, flooded residential thoroughfares, and left vehicles stranded in deep water.
City officials responded by declaring a local emergency to unlock additional resources and coordinate regional responses. Seimone Jurjis reported that city employees, alongside contractors, were utilizing heavy equipment to operate water pumps, open tide valves, and rebuild protective sand berms along vulnerable stretches of the beach. Newport Beach Mayor Lauren Kleiman stated at a news conference on Friday evening that the declaration helps secure extra resources and coordinate with regional partners to protect homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. City spokesperson Georgia Rios noted that crews rebuilt sand barriers along the beach, while utilities director Mark Vukojevic explained that the morning tide came in 20 inches higher than actual predicted values.
“Right now we have city staff members and contractors utilizing heavy equipment to rebuild and reinforce protective sand berms along our beaches. We’re expecting additional personnel and equipment from our contractors and potentially other public agencies as we put out the request for mutual aid.”
Seimone Jurjis
Utilities director Mark Vukojevic told local reporters that the flooding stretched across an estimated 15 to 20 blocks, with the morning tide coming in 20 inches higher than official predictions. Long-time residents noted the severity of the inundation. Bill Sharp, who has lived in West Newport for 65 years, remarked that while low-lying streets have flooded over the decades, I’ve never seen it like this, ever.
Resident Jonathan Nguyen noted that Sunday was expected to bring even worse conditions, and local resident Weigand recalled previous historic floods while emphasizing that the water had pushed across the coastline from River Jetties to the Wedge.
Historic Weather Alerts and Warnings Across San Diego and Beyond
The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm watch for San Diego, marking only the second time in recorded history that such an alert has been issued in Southern California. The only prior instance occurred ahead of Tropical Storm Hilary in 2023. Chief Meteorologist Megan Parry noted that peak rainfall rates could reach 0.50 to 0.60 inches per hour for the coast and valleys, 0.70 to 1 inch per hour in the mountains, and 0.50 to 0.70 inches per hour in the deserts.
Coastal areas are already experiencing water levels significantly higher than normal forecasts due to a combination of El Niño warmth and ocean swells. NOAA tide forecasts indicated that morning tides in San Diego and La Jolla were 17 inches higher than official predictions.
“We’ve got water that’s already high and then we’re going to have periods of high tides each morning and evening and then on top of that we have high surf.”
Miguel Miller, National Weather Service meteorologist in San Diego
Structural Damage and Safety Inspections Along the Coast
Farther north along the coast, heavy surf and high tides chewed away at shorelines left vulnerable by previous storms. City inspectors in Long Beach red-tagged two buildings containing three units on Seaside Walk after high waves tore through a wooden bulkhead and damaged home foundations. Craig Nakano, a spokesperson for the city’s Community Development Department, stated that nobody was displaced by the tagging because one property was under construction and the other was vacant. Further down the coast, Surfrider said it was working with California State Parks and other partners to develop alternative access arrangements while regular beachfront parking remains closed.
With additional high tides, powerful swells, and a subsequent Pacific storm system expected to arrive early next week, municipal leaders continue to urge residents in hazard-prone areas to monitor weather updates closely and utilize sandbag distribution sites set up by local authorities.