{"id":492171,"date":"2026-10-11T02:44:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T02:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/492171\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T02:44:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T02:44:18","slug":"california-weather-alert-warns-of-evacuations-and-washed-out-roads-as-rachel-approaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/492171\/","title":{"rendered":"California weather alert warns of evacuations and washed-out roads as Rachel approaches"},"content":{"rendered":"

California is bracing for potentially life-threatening flooding as Tropical Storm Rachel<\/a> barrels toward Southern California, bringing the possibility for torrential rain, dangerous flash floods and damaging winds across the region. <\/p>\n

The National Weather Service issued a stark warning<\/a> Saturday, cautioning that the storm could trigger widespread flooding, force evacuations and leave roads and bridges washed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding<\/a> having possible extensive impacts across San Diego County,\u201d the weather service warned.<\/p>\n

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Residents are already facing massive hurricane-powered waves before potential flash flooding from torrential rains arrives this weekend. \tFacebook\/@jakegordon99<\/p>\n

California is bracing for potentially life-threatening rainfall and dangerous flash floods across parts of San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside County.<\/p>\n

\u201cMajor rainfall flooding may prompt many evacuations and rescues. Rivers and tributaries may rapidly overflow their banks in multiple places.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFlood waters can enter many structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away,\u201d it added, warning that bridges and roads could also be destroyed by the deluge.<\/p>\n

The National Weather Service issued a warning on Saturday that the storm will bring hazardous conditions to Baja California and the Southwest. Potential damage includes flash flooding, and damaging winds. Pedro Colo for CA Post<\/p>\n

Rain bands were already sweeping into Orange and San Diego counties by late Saturday morning, according to the latest Doppler radar imagery, with forecasters warning that the worst could arrive Sunday.<\/p>\n

Rachel could dump 1 to 2 inches of rain<\/a> across coastal areas, valleys and deserts, while higher-end scenarios call for as much as 2 to 4 inches in the mountains.<\/p>\n

\u201cConfidence is high that the heaviest rain will occur over San Diego County mountains and deserts,\u201d the NWS warned.<\/p>\n

On Oct. 9, several parts of Newport Beach, including the Balboa Peninsula, experienced flooding, with water spreading across roads and sidewalks as Tropical Storm Rachel intensifies conditions along Southern California\u2019s coastline. Rick Mendoza \/ BACKGRID<\/p>\n

\u201cAreas of flash and urban flooding are probable, especially where the maximum rainfall rates occur.\u201d<\/p>\n

Forecasters have also flagged a 40% chance of excessive rainfall triggering flash floods across mountainous and desert areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park and Twentynine Palms, according to the San Francisco Chronicle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Vista Las Palmas neighborhood is seen in Palm Springs, Calif., Saturday, April 5, 2025. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The storm could unleash wind gusts of 39 to 73 mph in some areas, snapping trees, breaking limbs and toppling fences and road signs. Powerful gusts could also make driving dangerous on bridges and elevated roadways while triggering scattered power and communications outages.<\/p>\n

The heaviest thunderstorms and rainfall are expected Sunday, with gusts of 20 to 45 mph possible in parts of the desert, according to the National Weather Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Rachel\u2019s unusual behavior has also raised concerns among meteorologists, who say the storm is developing amid an emerging El Ni\u00f1o<\/a> weather pattern and exceptionally warm ocean temperatures off California.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s notable that this is an unusual event that\u2019s being made possible by both coincidence of this early arriving low-pressure trough off the coast of California and the record warm \u2014 and I do mean record warm \u2014 ocean temperatures off the coast of California right now,\u201d UC Agriculture and Natural Resources climate scientist Daniel Swain said during a briefing Friday, the Los Angeles Times<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

Meteorologists warn there\u2019s a 40% chance of excessive rainfall triggering flash floods across mountainous and desert areas of Riverside and San Bernardino county, including Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park and Twentynine Palms. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Floodwater covers streets around Mothers Beach as elevated tides and storm conditions bring seawater into low-lying coastal areas in Newport Beach, California, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Rick Mendoza \/ BACKGRID<\/p>\n

Officials are urging residents to prepare for rapidly changing conditions, check emergency supplies and closely monitor weather alerts and local news as Rachel moves through the region.<\/p>\n

Residents in flood-prone areas should be ready to evacuate if instructed and avoid driving through flooded roads, where even seemingly shallow water can conceal dangerous currents or washed-out pavement.<\/p>\n

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