Hurricane Rachel (2026)

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Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
Disc Plain black.svg Tropical cyclone
Solid black.svg Subtropical cyclone
ArrowUp.svg Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

At 09:00 UTC on September 27, the NHC designated an area of low pressure as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E after having a closed circulation and organized convection. [4] Later that day at 21:00 UTC, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Rachel. [5] Rachel gradually strengthened over the next few days, moving northwestward off the coast of Mexico. [6] It reached Category 1 strength at 06:00 UTC on September 30, becoming the tenth hurricane of the season. [7] Rachel intensified into a Category 2 at 06:00 UTC on October 1. [8] Favorable conditions allowed Rachel to further intensify into a Category 3 major hurricane, reaching peak intensity with 1-minute sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mbar (28.05 inHg). [9]

Following peak intensity, Rachel would weaken slowly as it moved westward, remaining a hurricane for six more days while fluctuating in intensity. [9] [10] Rachel lost hurricane-strength winds on October 8, however it began to turn northeastward the following day towards Baja California. [11] After fluctuating in intensity a bit, Rachel began to lose tropical characteristics as it accelerated, and the NHC declared Rachel a post-tropical cyclone just before it made landfall on the Baja California Peninsula, although the NHC continued issuing advisories until the threat subsided. [12] The remnants of Rachel dissipated the following day on October 12 over the Rocky Mountains.

Preparations

On October 9, the NHC had issued a tropical storm watch for San Diego County, California, making this the second time that a watch had been issued for California, the only other time being Hurricane Hilary in 2023. [13] [14] 15,000 sandbags were distributed in Long Beach, California ahead of the storm. [15] Newport Beach, California closed all their beaches and issued a state of emergency in advance of the storm. [16] 100 people were evacuated in Tijuana as the storm approached, and the Port of Ensenada was also closed on the night of October 10 as Rachel approached. [17] Additional impacts include the cancellation of the 2026 Moab 240 due to extreme trail conditions (broken aid stations, fallen trees, flash floods) where 70 runners and volunteers had to be rescued, but extra supplies delivered prior to the storm helped keep them safe. [18]

Impact

Mexico

Eight people were rescued by boat in Tijuana after being trapped by floodwaters on October 10. [19] Across Baja California, five people died and five people were missing. [20]

United States

California

The heaviest rain in California came at Palomar Mountain, at 3.89 in (99 mm). [21] Heavy rain also fell in the Inland Empire on October 10 and 11, with rainfall totals reaching 1.8 in (46 mm) in Indio and 1.71 in (43 mm) in Thermal. [22] In California, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson stated that eight structures across 13 addresses were marked as unsafe to be occupied due to high surf and severe coastal erosion on October 10. [23] [24]

Elsewhere

Las Vegas broke their daily rainfall record for October 11 and tied their wettest October day on record with 1.08 in (27 mm) of rain. [25] The storm caused flooded roads in both Las Vegas and Primm. [26]

At Lake Havasu City Airport, sustained winds were recorded at 39 mph (63 km/h), with gusts up to 63 mph (101 km/h), as well as 1.08 in (27 mm) of rain. [27]

Flooding forced a closure on Utah State Route 190 due to debris falling on the road. [28] The destruction, including flash flooding and fallen trees, forced the first cancellation of the ongoing 2026 Moab 240 ultramarathon, in Moab, Utah. [29] Snow was also observed in some mountains across the state. [30] Over 9,500 customers across Utah lost power. [31]

Tropical moisture from Rachel enhanced a significant winter storm over parts of Montana. [32] Parts of the state saw over 1 ft (0.30 m) of snowfall from these storms, with up to 19 in (48 cm) reported in Checkerboard. Montana City reported 14 in (36 cm) of snow while 12 in (30 cm) of snow was reported in both Buffalo and Belgrade. [33]

See also


References

  1. ↑ https://ktla.com/weather/satellite-timelapse-tropical-storm-rachel/
  2. ↑ "Southern California braces for Tropical Storm Rachel. 'This is not even the worst,' official says". Los Angeles Times. 2026-10-09. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
  3. ↑ "Flood Watch remains in effect as Tropical Storm Rachel moisture reaches Utah". KUTV. October 11, 2026. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  4. ↑ Evans, Cole; Pasch, Richard. "Tropical Depression Eighteen-E Discussion Number 1". National Hurricane Center . Archived from the original on 28 September 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  5. ↑ Brown, Daniel. "Tropical Storm Rachel Discussion Number 3". National Hurricane Center . Archived from the original on 28 September 2026. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
  6. ↑ Papin, Philippe (September 29, 2026). "Tropical Storm Rachel Discussion Number 11". National Hurricane Center . Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ Papin, Philippe (September 30, 2026). "Hurricane Rachel Discussion Number 13". National Hurricane Center . Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ Gibbs, Alex. "Hurricane Rachel Discussion Number 17". National Hurricane Center . Miami, Florida. Archived from the original on 12 October 2026. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
  9. 1 2 "EP182026 BTK". NOAA . October 2, 2026. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  10. ↑ Beven, Jack (October 3, 2026). "Hurricane Rachel Discussion Number 25". National Hurricane Center . Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  11. ↑ Gibbs, Alex (October 9, 2026). "Hurricane Rachel Discussion Number 49". National Hurricane Center . Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ www.nhc.noaa.gov https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_ep3+shtml/282039.shtml . Retrieved 2026-10-11.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ https://ktla.com/weather/satellite-timelapse-tropical-storm-rachel/
  14. ↑ "Southern California braces for Tropical Storm Rachel. 'This is not even the worst,' official says". Los Angeles Times. 2026-10-09. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
  15. ↑ "Long Beach officials to announce latest preparations for impacts from Tropical Storm Rachel: WATCH LIVE". ABC 7 Los Angeles. October 10, 2026. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Tropical Storm Rachel to fuel dangerous flash flood threat in the Southwest". ABC News. October 10, 2026. Retrieved October 10, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Storm Rachel Hits Baja California, Over 100 Evacuated". The Rio Times. October 10, 2026. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  18. ↑ News, A. B. C. "70 ultramarathon runners evacuated after being stranded by heavy rain: Officials". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-10-12.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ↑ Hernández, Marco (2026-10-11). "Rescatan en lancha a 8 personas que quedaron atrapadas por las inundaciones en Tijuana". TJNoticias (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2026-10-13. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
  20. ↑ "Death toll rises to 6 as Hurricane Simon and Rachel remnants unleash floods in Mexico". Rochester First. October 13, 2026. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  21. ↑ "How much rain did Tropical Storm Rachel bring to the San Diego area?". Fox 5 San Diego. October 11, 2026. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Rachel drenches Coachella Valley, flooding risks remain". SacBee. October 11, 2026. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  23. ↑ Vankin, Deborah (October 11, 2026). "Heavy surf, red-tagged homes, a battered boardwalk: Long Beach confronts costly climate reality". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 12 October 2026. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  24. ↑ Schier, Anna (October 11, 2026). "Homes Evacuated As Rachel Remnants Hit SoCal Sunday Morning, Destructive Flooding Forecast". Patch. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Las Vegas on the verge of all-time rainfall record as Rachel's storms surge". Las Vegas Review Journal. October 11, 2026. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  26. ↑ "VIDEO: Rain from Tropical Storm Rachel causes flooding across Las Vegas valley". KTNV. October 11, 2026. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Flash flooding hits Mohave County as storm brings heavy rain, 63 mph gust at Havasu airport". Havasu News. October 11, 2026. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Big Cottonwood Canyon reopens after flooding, debris force closures on SR-190". KTUV. October 12, 2026. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  29. ↑ News, A. B. C. "70 ultramarathon runners evacuated after being stranded by heavy rain: Officials". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-10-12.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  30. ↑ "SNAPPED: Tropical Storm Rachel brings first major snowfall of the season". Town Lift, Park City News. October 12, 2026. Retrieved October 13, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Dual tropical storms hit both US coasts with floods and outages". Hanford Sentinel. October 11, 2026. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Great Falls MT 519 AM MDT Sun Oct 11 2026". NWS Great Falls, MT. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  33. ↑ Kaiser, Caitlin; Erdmab, Jonathan (October 12, 2026). "Rachel's remnants brings flooding to the SW; Simon targets Mexico". The Weather Channel. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
Hurricane Rachel
Rachel 2026-10-01 2040Z.jpg
Rachel at peak intensity on October 1
Tropical cyclones of the 2026 Pacific hurricane season
2026 Pacific hurricane season summary.png
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