Rainfall from a non-tropical storm is forecast to be spotty into Saturday night. More significant rain will follow in part of the Los Angeles area from Sunday to Sunday evening as Rachel tracks over southeastern California. Enough rain will fall in the city and beach communities immediately west to lead to poor drainage area flooding and slick roads. A sharp cutoff to the downpours northwest toward Oxnard.
The heaviest rain will occur to the southeast of the city and across the mountainous terrain and in the deserts, where torrential downpours are forecast. Low-lying neighborhoods, urban locations and normally dry streambeds will be most susceptible to rising water with localized flash flooding possible where the heaviest rain persists. Mudslides and other debris flows are another concern, especially in recent burn scar locations.
While Rachel will be less intense in terms of wind from prior eastern Pacific hurricanes at sea this season, its close proximity will bring gusty winds for a time this weekend. Winds could briefly become strong enough to knock down some trees and cause sporadic power outages mainly south and east of the downtown area. Wave action from the close-in storm will generate large swells, heavy surf and coastal flooding for a time as well.
In addition to the hazards from the combined storms, some drought and wildfire relief is likely where the most drenching rain occurs. The storm combo will break the heat wave with temperatures below the historical average to follow.
Due to flooding rainfall and gusty winds, Rachel is a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes in the United States. The RealImpact™ Scale is a 6-point scale, with ratings of less than one and 1 to 5, that accounts for not only wind speed, but also flooding rain, storm surge and economic damage and loss.
Wind Flow
This interactive map provides a visual representation of wind speed and direction over the next 24 hours
Maximum Sustained Winds
The projected maximum sustained winds of an active tropical system
Maximum Wind Gusts
The projected maximum wind gusts of an active tropical system
