Rachel’s Powerful Surf Sends Waves Crashing Into California Homes

Tropical Rainstorm Rachel is dissipating, but its impacts along the California coast will be felt for some quite some time. Read on for the details of the cleanup efforts happening in California after Rachel swept through the state.

Rachel Amplifies Beach Erosion Along California Coast

Rough surf and high waves generated by what was once Hurricane Rachel slammed into the California coast over the weekend. Residents in Long Beach were forced to evacuate so that crews could reinforce coastal barriers. While the storm is long gone, the dangerous beach conditions are lingering in this part of Southern California.

Rachel made landfall late Saturday as a tropical storm on the northwestern coast of Baja California, Mexico. The storm came ashore about 90 miles to the southeast of San Diego. Although the storm weakened as it moved farther inland, its large swells and other impacts have been affecting parts of California for days.

A row of oceanfront homes in Long Beach were deemed unsafe to occupy as seawater washed ashore and into the houses.  The homes were damaged after the massive waves were able to breach the barrier set up to protect these structures. Building inspectors said that multiple homes were unsafe to enter, forcing residents to seek shelter elsewhere. The pounding surf also damaged the coastal community's boardwalk area.

Rachel had been churning in the Eastern Pacific for days before coming ashore. Crews worked around the clock to reinforce the sand walls that protect Long Beach. Local officials in both Long Beach and Newport Beach issued emergency declarations in an effort to mobilize resources to protect the structures that dot the coastline.

The largest waves hit the California coast on Sunday. The impacts were not limited to the southern part of the Golden State. A peak wave of 17.4 feet was recorded at Point Sur in Central California. Waves eclipsing the 16-foot mark were also noted at Point Reyes and Cape Mendocino in Northern California.

Authorities are crediting the hard work of city crews and contractors for mitigating the damage by building new berms, operating water pumps around the clock, and more. The city of Newport Beach posted on Facebook about the work to maintain the sand barriers and remove water, saying, “That work continues as crews reinforce vulnerable areas along the coastline and monitor for additional flooding.”

While the storm has moved out of the region, the dangerous surf conditions and rip currents will linger through the weekend. Lifeguards are encouraging people to stay off of the beaches until conditions improve.

Newport Beach leaders said that Newport Pier, Balboa Pier, and the Wedge are temporarily closed. While the other beaches are open, visitors are being asked to respect the closures and stay off the sand berms that are in place to reduce future damage.

These protective dunes are now vulnerable to future damage as the busy Eastern Pacific hurricane season continues to send impacts into California and beyond. Forecasters are warning that the intensifying El Niño will translate to a wet winter for the Pacific Southwest, raising the risk of further beach erosion and flooding rainfall.

Heavy Rain From Rachel's Outer Bands Also Created Problems

Rachel was more than just a wave producer. The storm also ushered in heavy rain in areas far inland. Rockslides and flash flooding forced road closures in San Clemente on Sunday morning.

The line of heavy rain spread into the Southwest as the weekend progressed, fueling flash flooding in parts of Utah and Nevada. The rain has now let up, paving the way for an abundance of sunshine and a stark warming trend.

For instance, Los Angeles is forecast to climb into the low 90s by Thursday. Friday will be the warmest day of the week with a forecast high of 96 degrees in downtown Los Angeles. Readings in the 90s will persist through the weekend before temperatures start a downward trajectory again early next week.

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