Hurricane Rachel has pivoted toward Southern California and could reach the coast early Sunday as a diminished post-tropical storm.
The National Weather Service said a large weather system barreling in from the northwest will shove Rachel off its previous track. “This will cause Rachel to slow down and then turn and accelerate toward Baja California and southern California,” the agency said in its latest advisory.
The projected landfall sits roughly 100 miles south of San Diego, though forecasters cautioned the path might drift as far north as Orange County. The exact spot and timing remain unsettled, the NWS added, with significant changes possible in coming days.
Cooler ocean temperatures and encroaching dry air are expected to sap Rachel’s strength during its approach. Forecasters said the storm should gradually weaken before reaching shore.
Residents across Southern California and inland desert communities were urged to monitor updates as the situation develops.
The turn marks a notable shift for Rachel, which had been tracking on a different course before the incoming northwest system intervened. The interaction between the two weather patterns will first slow the hurricane, then redirect it toward the U.S.-Mexico border region.
Forecasters emphasized that even a weakened post-tropical system can carry substantial rain and wind hazards. The advisory noted uncertainty remains high, with model runs still diverging on final trajectory and intensity.
Southern California rarely faces direct tropical threats due to typically cold coastal waters and prevailing wind patterns that steer storms westward. Rachel’s unusual path has drawn heightened attention from emergency managers and residents unaccustomed to hurricane watches in the region.
The NWS continued to refine its forecasts as aircraft reconnaissance and satellite data fed into updated model runs. Officials planned additional briefings as the weekend approached and confidence in the track forecast improved.
The storm’s potential arrival early Sunday would coincide with peak summer beach activity, complicating any evacuation or warning messaging for coastal areas. Forecasters said they would work with local emergency services to coordinate public communications.
Rachel’s approach toward Baja California also threatens Mexico’s northern peninsula with flooding rains and gusty conditions, even if the center stays offshore.