Remnants of Storm Rachel Force Evacuations and Flood Damage Across Southern California

When the remains of Tropical Storm Rachel rolled inland early Sunday, residents of Los Angeles County woke to a scene that felt more like a hurricane than a post‑tropical system. The National Weather Service warned of unusually high tides—about eight feet in some places—potentially topping recent records. Those numbers weren’t just abstract; they translated into pounding surf, flooded streets, and, ultimately, a handful of homes that had to be deemed unsafe.

In Long Beach, city officials moved quickly. By Saturday evening, eight structures spanning 13 addresses earned a red tag, meaning they were off‑limits for anyone to live in until engineers signed off. A ninth building received a yellow tag, allowing owners to retrieve personal items but prohibiting any overnight stay. Mayor Rex Richardson explained that the red‑tagged homes were on the vulnerable 6400‑ and 6500‑block of Seaside Walk, a stretch that sits precariously close to the ocean‑side berms built after previous surf events.

The evacuation order covered the Peninsula from Bay Shore Avenue to 72nd Place, plus several blocks of Seaside Walk. Residents were urged to stay far from the sand dunes that were meant to shield their houses because the relentless waves were already scouring away sections of those very berms.

Just across the county line, Newport Beach faced its own set of challenges. The iconic Newport and Balboa Piers, the parking lot at Balboa, and the famed "Wedge" rock jetty were all temporarily shut down. An emergency declaration followed after high surf flooded streets on the Balboa Peninsula, turning quiet neighborhoods into shallow lakes overnight.

"Everybody got caught off guard," Orange County Board Vice Chair Katrina Foley told City News Service. The swell arrived a day earlier than most planners had expected, outpacing the region’s recent preparations for Rachel’s offshore gusts.

Beyond the immediate danger to swimmers—rip currents and large breaking waves were flagged as life‑threatening—the storm also sparked a broader coastal flood warning that lingered through Sunday afternoon. The forecast called for this warning to shift to an advisory lasting until Tuesday afternoon, suggesting that the worst of the flooding might be over, but residual impacts could linger.

Rainfall totals were modest, ranging from a quarter‑inch in the lowlands to up to two inches in the San Gabriel Mountains. Still, even that light rain combined with the elevated tide contributed to street flooding in low‑lying coastal areas. In the desert foothills, gusts approached 60 mph, reminding everyone that the storm’s reach extended far beyond the shoreline.

Cleanup crews already began assessing damage to the Long Beach waterfront boardwalk, where broken sections of concrete and scattered debris testified to the force of the surf. Some sand berms, painstakingly rebuilt after previous high‑surf events, were partially washed away, leaving homeowners exposed to future waves.

While the core of Rachel drifted northeast of Southern California by mid‑afternoon, moisture from the system will linger for a few more days, keeping the threat of light rain and occasional high surf on the table. Residents are being asked to stay vigilant, heed any further evacuation notices, and avoid beaches until officials declare conditions safe.

As the community grapples with the aftermath, local authorities continue to update residents through Patch, social media, and emergency alert systems. If you live in or near the affected coastal zones, keep an eye on the latest forecasts and be prepared to act quickly—rain or shine, the Pacific can surprise you.