Tropical Storm Rachel Remnants Soak Southwest and Batter California Coast
- Remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel drenched the Southwest with rainfall totals topping an inch in Las Vegas and triggering mudslides near Palm Desert on October 11, 2026, while...
- The National Weather Service announced on the morning of October 11, 2026, that Rachel was no longer a tropical storm.
- National Weather Service meteorologist Daniel Berc stated on the morning of October 11, 2026, We’re not out of the woods yet.
Remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel drenched the Southwest with rainfall totals topping an inch in Las Vegas and triggering mudslides near Palm Desert on October 11, 2026, while coastal communities across Southern California braced against high surf and minor flooding, latimes.com reported.
Storm Downgrade Brings Relief to Battered Coastlines
The National Weather Service announced on the morning of October 11, 2026, that Rachel was no longer a tropical storm. Although the system weakened as it moved inland, coastal areas already battered by high surf emerged with less structural damage than local officials initially feared.
National Weather Service meteorologist Daniel Berc stated on the morning of October 11, 2026, We’re not out of the woods yet.
Forecasters noted that spotty rain and high tides would continue for a couple of days even though the heaviest rainfall had passed.
Long Beach Peninsula Sustains the Worst Coastal Damage
City crews and residents raced early on October 11, 2026, to construct a sand berm stretching westward from 62nd Place before high tide.
Newport Beach Residents Escape Major Flooding
In Newport Beach, streets along the Balboa Peninsula remained dry on October 11, 2026, following super high tides on October 9 and October 10 that had flooded roads, closed the Wedge surf spot, and shut down the Balboa Pier and Newport Pier. Residents walked and rode bicycles along the boardwalk while dozers and excavators reinforced sand berms measuring 10 to 12 feet high.
The waves haven’t breached our walls.
Stewart credited constant city maintenance with protecting the neighborhood since the last major flooding event five years prior.
Inland Flooding Hits Las Vegas and Coachella Valley
Farther inland on October 11, 2026, Las Vegas recorded 1.08 inches of rain since midnight, breaking its daily rainfall record for October 11. Meanwhile, six miles south of Palm Desert in the Coachella Valley, rainfall generated a flow of rocks, mud, and debris that blanketed California 74 near Mile Marker 89, according to weather service meteorologist Kyle Wheeler.
Flood Warnings Remain Active Through Tuesday
Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, noted that south-facing beaches were particularly vulnerable due to high tides driven by warm ocean water and lower atmospheric pressure.
Coastal flooding and erosion are expected to worsen this morning as the highest waves coincide with the high tides and water levels that are already running well above predicted levels.
National Hurricane Center