Tropical Storm Rachel: 45 mph winds, moving NE at 7 mph

Watches and warnings

Changes with this advisory:

The government of Mexico has upgraded the Tropical Storm Watch to a Tropical Storm Warning along the west coast of Baja California, from San Jose de Las Palomas northward to the U.S./Mexico Border.

Summary of watches and warnings in effect:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...

• West coast of Baja California, from San Jose de Las Palomas northward to the U.S./Mexico Border

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...

• Southern California coast from the U.S/Mexico Border northward to the San Diego/Orange County Line
• East coast of Baja California, from Isla San Luis northward to Puerto Penasco

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

Interests in northern Baja California, northern Gulf of California, and Southern California should continue to monitor the progress of Rachel.

Discussion and outlook

At 200 PM PDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Rachel was located near latitude 23.3 North, longitude 124.0 West. Rachel is moving toward the northeast near 7 mph (11 km/h). A general northeast to north-northeast motion, with a significant increase in forward speed, is expected over the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center of Rachel is expected to approach the northern Baja California Peninsula or Southern California late Saturday or early Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible the next day or so, with rapid weakening forecast after the storm moves inland over the southwestern United States on Sunday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km) from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 995 mb (29.39 inches).

Hazards affecting land

Wind: Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach portions of western Baja California within the Tropical Storm Warning area starting Saturday night. Tropical storm conditions are also possible within the Tropical Storm Watch area in extreme Southern California and eastern Baja California beginning late Saturday night or early Sunday. Strong gusty winds associated with the system are expected to spread over interior portions of the Southwest United States, especially in areas of higher terrain, from this weekend into early next week.

Rainfall: Rachel will bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to portions of Baja California this weekend.

Rachel and associated moisture of the system will also bring rainfall of 1 to 3 inches, with maximum amounts locally up to 5 inches in portions of the Southwest United States this weekend. This will lead to increasing coverage of rainfall and potential for flash and urban flooding.

Surf: Swells partly generated by Rachel will build along the coast of Southern California and northern Baja California through the weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, as well as moderate to isolated major coastal flooding, through early next week.

Next advisory

Next intermediate advisory at 500 PM PDT. Next complete advisory at 800 PM PDT.