Tropical Storm Rachel forces evacuations and infrastructure damage across Southern California coast

Key points

• Long Beach issued a mandatory evacuation order for homes on Seaside Walk between 64th and 66th places, effective Friday evening through Tuesday noon.
• Waves breached the Long Beach bulkhead, flooding homes and streets; inspectors red-tagged eight buildings as unsafe and yellow-tagged at least one.
• The National Weather Service predicts high tides of approximately 8 feet on Sunday morning in Los Angeles County, potentially exceeding recent records.
• Newport Beach closed all city beaches and piers on Saturday morning due to flooding, though some beaches reopened by early afternoon while piers remained closed.
• Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica expects a recovery period lasting several months and plans to request assistance from the governor and federal government.

Background

This event follows Tropical Storm Marie in September 2026, which caused significant seawall damage and evacuations on the Long Beach Peninsula. The current storm, Rachel, formed off the coast of Mexico in early October 2026 and has moved toward Southern California, bringing heavy rain and high surf. The National Hurricane Center expects Rachel's center to move onshore in northern Baja California on Saturday night, though its track has shifted slightly south, leaving most of San Diego County outside its direct path but still under a tropical storm watch.

How outlets are covering it

The Los Angeles Times provides detailed reporting on the immediate impacts, including specific evacuation zones, building damage assessments, and official statements regarding recovery timelines. It highlights the severity of the flooding in Long Beach and Newport Beach, noting that the infrastructure was not built for such conditions. The Washington Post offers a broader overview, confirming that waves pummeled south-facing beaches and flooded communities, citing the Long Beach Post and online videos as sources for the bulkhead breach. Both outlets agree on the severity of the flooding and the official responses, but the Los Angeles Times provides more granular details on the damage and recovery efforts, while the Washington Post focuses on the initial impact and the storm's approach.

Why it matters

The flooding and infrastructure damage caused by Tropical Storm Rachel highlight the vulnerability of coastal communities in Southern California to extreme weather events. The mandatory evacuations and building closures in Long Beach and Newport Beach indicate significant risks to public safety and property. The National Weather Service's warning of record-high tides on Sunday morning suggests that the situation may worsen, potentially leading to more extensive damage and displacement. The anticipated lengthy recovery period and the need for state and federal assistance underscore the economic and logistical challenges facing these communities. This event also raises concerns about the resilience of coastal infrastructure in the face of increasingly severe weather patterns, which may be influenced by climate change.

What to watch

The National Weather Service expects the highest flooding risks on Sunday morning, particularly along the Orange and San Diego coasts, as swells, onshore winds, and high tides combine. The heaviest rain is expected late Saturday night into Sunday morning, with most coastal areas receiving about an inch or less, while some mountain areas could get more than four inches. Long Beach officials are bracing damaged sections of the bulkhead with timber and sandbags to prevent collapse. The city is preparing for a lengthy recovery and is considering requests for assistance from the governor and federal government. Newport Beach officials are monitoring the situation and may reopen closed areas as conditions improve. The National Hurricane Center will continue to track Rachel's movement, which is expected to move onshore in northern Baja California on Saturday night.