Coastal Flooding Impacts Southern California as Tropical Storm Rachel Approaches

A coastal flood warning was issued for beaches from Malibu to San Diego on Saturday due to Tropical Storm Rachel. In response, Long Beach ordered some residents to evacuate, while Newport Beach closed its beaches and piers.

The National Weather Service warned of potential damaging floods, particularly for south-facing beaches like Long Beach and Malibu. According to the San Diego office, the storm’s greatest impacts, including swells, onshore winds, and high tides, are expected Sunday morning as Rachel approaches northern Baja California.

Long Beach enforced a mandatory evacuation for homes on Seaside Walk between 64th and 66th places. The evacuation began Friday at 7 p.m. and is planned to last until noon Tuesday, though the date could change based on conditions. City crews used pumps to manage flooding, while emergency repairs were made to the bulkhead.

Inspectors red-tagged eight buildings, deeming them unsafe, while yellow tags were placed on one building, allowing restricted use. Traffic restrictions were in place, closing the Peninsula to nonresident traffic and further closures starting at 62nd Place.

Newport Beach declared a local emergency on Friday, closing beaches and piers due to flooding. Crews worked to mitigate flooding by rebuilding berms and using pumps, though complete flood prevention cannot be guaranteed. Some residents, like Joe Angelo, expressed shock at the flooding, noting its unprecedented severity in decades.

Sandbags were visible around homes near Balboa Boulevard. Despite the warnings, visitors were seen observing the waves, with some engaging in activities like backflips off sand berms. Chris Perkins from Orange County brought his son to see the waves, emphasizing ocean safety.

In Long Beach, residents collected sandbags as light rain began falling. Huntington Beach also prepared by activating its emergency operations center. Spectators watched the waves on Saturday, with some areas that flooded on Friday remaining dry.

The weather service put San Diego County under a tropical storm watch. According to UC climate scientist Daniel Swain, the situation is unusual. It results from a low-pressure trough and record warm ocean temperatures.

Inland areas like southern San Bernardino County face a significant chance of excessive rain leading to possible flash floods. Julie Phillipson of the National Weather Service highlighted concerns about heavy rains and potential flooding during a Saturday briefing.

Deputy Managing Editor Shelby Grad contributed to this report.