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Weather whiplash: SoCal gets a huge cooldown, some rain and more coastal damage
Waves crest sand berms and flood the boardwalk along the Long Beach Peninsula on Friday.
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Megan Garvey
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LAist
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A major shift in the weather
Tropical Storm Rachel is bringing rain and cool weather to Southern California.
Topline:
Southern California is in for a dose of rain this weekend from Tropical Storm Rachel, plus a cooldown, right on the heels of the latest sweltering heat wave. The storm is also driving elevated sea levels, coastal erosion and dangerous surf.
Rain: Forecasters say the rain will start late Saturday. The chance of showers will be highest on Sunday and Monday, but will continue through Tuesday. Most of L.A. and Ventura counties could get up to a half inch of rain. Orange County and the region’s mountains could get up to an inch. The rain is being driven by Tropical Storm Rachel, which will pass over the San Diego area and northern Baja California late Saturday night and early Sunday.
Tropical Storm Rachel is expected to pass over the San Diego area and northern Baja California early Sunday morning.
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Coastal impacts: Waves are already battering the Southern California coast as surging surf from Rachel combines with elevated sea levels from an El Niño-driven Kelvin wave. Newport Beach and Laguna Beach saw flooding Friday, according to news reports. Coastal flood warnings and advisories are in place through Tuesday for L.A., Orange and Ventura county coastlines. The flood risk will remain high throughout the weekend and early next week, but will be worse on Sunday and during high tides. Beaches will also see dangerous waves and rip currents.
On the Long Beach Peninsula: LAist correspondent Jill Replogle reported from the boardwalk on Friday that workers were piling sand to try to keep the waves from coming through and causing further damage. But tides were high earlier in the day and are expected to be over 7 feet this weekend. All the recent erosion, flooding and other damage raises questions about the long-term future of the peninsula.
The cooldown: Temperatures are expected to drop significantly over the weekend. By Monday, highs across L.A. and Orange counties will range from the mid-60s to the low 70s.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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