Tropical Storm Rachel: warning covers Tijuana’s coast, with wind and rain expected from Saturday evening

Tropical Storm Rachel is forecast to approach northern Baja California or Southern California late Saturday or early Sunday, and a tropical storm warning now covers Baja California’s Pacific coast from San José de las Palomas north to the U.S. border, which takes in Tijuana’s coastline. That is according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), whose 8 p.m. PDT advisory on Friday, Oct. 9, lists the warnings issued by Mexico’s government.

At that hour, Rachel was about 720 miles (1,160 km) south-southwest of San Diego, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h), moving northeast at 9 mph (15 km/h). The NHC said some strengthening is possible before the storm moves inland, and that tropical-storm-force winds reach up to 80 miles (130 km) from its center.

What the forecast says

• Wind: tropical storm conditions are expected in parts of northern Baja California from Saturday evening into Sunday morning. North of the border, a tropical storm watch covers the Southern California coast up to the San Diego–Orange County line.
• Rain: 1 to 3 inches (roughly 25 to 75 mm) for parts of Baja California this weekend, with a risk of flash and urban flooding.
• Coast: swells partly generated by Rachel are likely to bring life-threatening surf and rip currents, plus moderate to isolated major coastal flooding, through early next week.

Tijuana’s municipal Civil Protection council had already declared a pre-alert on Oct. 6 because of El Niño forecasts (our earlier story).

What it means if you’re visiting

• Have tickets for Saturday night or Sunday? Check the organizer’s official channels before you head out.
• Stay off the beach and out of the water in Playas de Tijuana while dangerous surf is in the forecast.
• Don’t drive or walk through flooded streets or running water.
• Crossing back on Sunday? Give yourself extra time and check CBP’s border wait times before you leave.
• In an emergency, dial 911 on either side of the border.

Rachel’s forecast is changing quickly. The NHC posts new advisories every few hours at nhc.noaa.gov; for the U.S. side, follow the National Weather Service in San Diego.