The remnants of Hurricane Rachel are forecast to traverse Southern California this weekend, bringing periodic downpours and strong winds to the region, including coastal areas and local valleys. The National Weather Service (NWS) indicated the stormy weather will begin Sunday and continue through Tuesday, with the highest chances of rain expected Sunday night into Monday.
This shift in weather comes as a welcome change from the recent heat wave, with forecasters anticipating more seasonable conditions across the inland region starting Saturday, just ahead of the storm's arrival.
The National Weather Service stated on Wednesday that a low-pressure system is expected to absorb moisture from the former hurricane's remnants. This system is then forecast to move northeastward into extreme Southern California and northern Baja. Rain totals for the entire event could range from approximately 0.5 to 2 inches, with the highest amounts expected in mountain areas.
The National Hurricane Center’s forecast track on Wednesday afternoon showed Rachel, which was gradually weakening toward tropical depression status, about 450 miles west of Cabo San Lucas. The storm was projected to make landfall near Ensenada, affecting San Diego and Mexicali starting Saturday night. By Sunday morning, the low-pressure trough is expected to move northeast towards Las Vegas, bringing inclement weather across the inland region into Monday, as reported by the NWS.
Onshore winds are also expected to strengthen significantly for Sunday and Monday. The NWS stated that southwest to west winds are forecast for Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, with gusts reaching 20 to 30 mph for coastal waters and local valleys. Stronger gusts, between 35 and 45 mph, are anticipated for mountain and desert areas, while the northern Coachella Valley, specifically below the San Gorgonio Pass, could see gusts as high as 55 to 65 mph.
In response to the anticipated conditions, flash flood watches and warnings, along with wind watches, are expected for some locations by the end of the weekend. Residents in South Orange County, especially those near the coast and in local valleys, should prepare for these wind and rain conditions.
Temperatures will also see a notable drop from recent highs. The heat wave, which saw triple-digit temperatures in the inland region, will give way to seasonal norms after Friday. For instance, forecasters reported that highs in the Riverside metropolitan area were expected to top just above 100 degrees on Thursday, dropping to around 95 on Friday, and then into the low 80s for Saturday and Sunday. Overnight lows in Riverside are expected to be in the mid-60s Thursday, 65 on Friday, and low 60s Saturday and Sunday.
The Coachella Valley is also forecast to experience cooler temperatures. Thursday’s highs were expected to climb into the low 100s, with lows in the upper 70s. Friday will see highs in the mid- to upper 90s and lows in the upper 60s. Saturday’s high will remain in the mid- to upper 90s with similar lows, before Sunday’s peak drops to the low 80s, with lows in the low 60s during the night. The temperature range in the Temecula Valley is expected to closely parallel that of the Riverside area from Thursday through Sunday, according to meteorologists.
