Tropical Storm Watch Lifted for San Diego, but the Danger Isn't Over

Tropical Storm Watch Lifted for San Diego, but the Danger Isn't Over

The National Weather Service office in San Diego discontinued the Tropical Storm Watch for San Diego County and its coastal waters early Sunday morning — only the second time such a watch has ever been issued for Southern California. Rachel has weakened into a post-tropical cyclone moving north at about 25 mph. But forecasters warn the hazards are not done: flooding, coastal flooding and gusty winds remain threats, with localized flooding and dangerous surf expected through the day.

Watch canceled, hazards remain

According to the latest National Weather Service briefing, Rachel is now about 60 miles east-northeast of San Diego with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and no longer has tropical characteristics. Tropical-storm-level impacts will diminish through Sunday morning, and the watch has been canceled for all of San Diego County. Mexico's government simultaneously discontinued its Tropical Storm Warning from Punta Eugenia northward to the U.S.-Mexico border.

But "canceled" does not mean "over." The weather service says widespread rain from Rachel will continue through Sunday and taper off in the evening, while coastal flooding, wind and periods of heavy rain could still trigger localized and flash flooding. NBC 7 San Diego reports a flood watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. Sunday, a coastal flood warning until 3 p.m., followed by a coastal flood advisory through Tuesday afternoon.

Flood alerts stretch into Tuesday

The ocean is the biggest worry. South swell from Rachel, combined with northwest swells, strengthening onshore winds and high tides topping 7 feet, keeps the threat of coastal flooding and beach erosion high, with forecasters calling confidence "high." Surf is expected to peak at 6 to 9 feet Sunday, easing to 3 to 6 feet Monday and Tuesday. The weather service put it bluntly: "Dangerous surf and rip currents continue to pose risks along San Diego beaches. Please continue to take flooding and coastal hazards seriously."

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department remains at Water Rescue Alert 2 — an elevated readiness level triggered by rainfall totals, with swift-water rescue teams staged near flood-prone areas and engine crews checking known flood-risk spots. The alert proved its worth overnight: from about 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 1:30 a.m. Sunday, crews rescued a man trapped in a storm drain filled with fast-moving water near 33rd Street and Imperial Avenue in southeast San Diego.

Only the second such watch in history

The watch made headlines because it is so rare. Fox Weather notes the National Hurricane Center has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Southern California just twice in history — the other time ahead of Hurricane Hilary in 2023, which brought heavy rain and flooding to the California desert and the Southwest. Rachel spent part of the past week as a major hurricane far off Mexico's Pacific coast; at 5 p.m. Saturday it was a 65 mph tropical storm about 365 miles south of San Diego, racing northeast toward the border.

Peak gusts reached 59 mph in eastern San Diego County. Observed rainfall so far: 0.48 to 0.95 inches along the coast, 0.55 to 2.37 inches in the valleys, 0.32 to 2.15 inches in the mountains and 0.76 to 1.57 inches in the deserts, with peak hourly rates of 0.7 to 1 inch in the mountains. In Los Angeles County's mountains, totals were generally an inch or less, topped by 1.09 inches at Tanbark in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Fire crews on alert, beaches still dangerous

For San Diego residents, today's message is simple: stay away from the beach. Under Alert 2, fire stations are conducting visual checks of flood-prone locations while personnel and specialized equipment sit pre-positioned for faster response. The weather service's advice is direct — keep taking flooding and coastal hazards seriously.

Rain ends tonight, coastal risk lingers to Tuesday

The good news is the rain shield is moving on. Forecasters expect widespread rain to decrease through Sunday and clear out in the evening, with surf easing further Monday and Tuesday. But the coastal flood advisory runs through Tuesday afternoon — for San Diego, the storm has passed, but the sea hasn't fully settled.