Tropical Storm Rachel Batters Southern California With Dangerous Surf, Flash Flooding and Record Rainfall

• by Shimanta Das
• October 13, 2026

Tropical Storm Rachel unleashed a barrage of dangerous surf, flash flooding, and record rainfall across Southern California over the weekend, forcing mandatory evacuations and prompting emergency repairs along the coast. The storm’s remnants, combined with a powerful El Niño-enhanced Kelvin wave, created a perfect storm of coastal hazards that overwhelmed defenses and inundated low-lying areas.

In Newport Beach, a mandatory evacuation order remains in place for nine buildings in the 6400 and 6500 blocks of Seaside Walk, with evacuation warnings covering additional properties on the Peninsula. The bulkhead that protects beachfront homes was overtopped by waves and significantly damaged between 64th Place and 66th Place. “The goal has been to isolate critical damage as much as possible,” city officials said in a statement, noting that crews will conduct emergency repairs and reinforcement of the boardwalk and bulkhead after high tides. The city has tapped a dedicated coastal fund—used for operations, maintenance, development, and capital projects along the city’s coastal and waterfront areas—rather than the General Fund or regular emergency reserves. “This is not from the General Fund and not regular City emergency reserves,” the statement clarified.

Floodwaters drenched main drags like Balboa Boulevard and numerous adjacent streets, while Newport Pier, Balboa Pier, the Wedge from the rock jetty to M Street, and the Balboa Pier parking lot remained temporarily closed. The National Hurricane Center warned that some areas could receive up to 5 inches of rain through Sunday, “which will continue to lead to the potential for significant flash and urban flooding.” The combination of large ocean swells stirred up by Rachel and prolonged swells from the Kelvin wave produced major flooding along the coast, with significant beach erosion likely.

The storm’s impacts are expected to persist, as a coastal flood warning remains in effect through Tuesday afternoon, warning of potentially significant flooding and beach erosion fueled in part by Tropical Storm Rachel’s remnants. Residents are urged to stay informed and heed evacuation orders as crews work to reinforce vulnerable coastal infrastructure.