Tropical Storm Rachel Heads Toward Baja and California
Tropical Storm Rachel is forecast to approach northern Baja California and extreme Southern California at tropical storm strength Saturday night, October 10, according to the National Hurricane Center.
At 8 p.m. PDT Friday, Rachel had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving northeast at 9 mph.
Forecasters expect the storm to accelerate as it approaches the coast. Some strengthening is possible before Rachel moves inland, followed by rapid weakening over the southwestern United States.
Tropical storm warnings cover portions of western Baja California, while tropical storm watches cover extreme Southern California and parts of eastern Baja California. Damaging wind gusts could spread inland, particularly across higher elevations.
Rachel and its associated moisture are expected to produce 1 to 3 inches of rain, with isolated totals reaching 5 inches across parts of the southwestern United States. The rainfall could cause flash flooding and flooding in urban areas.
Along Southern California and northern Baja California, building swells could bring dangerous surf, life-threatening rip currents and coastal flooding through early next week.
