Tropical Storm Rachel and San Diego: After the Storm

Clouds stacking up over the ocean at Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach at sunset, palms and the bluff, the night before Tropical Storm Rachel — Fletcher Cove, Solana Beach, Friday Oct. 9 at sunset, the night before Rachel · photographed by PJ · animated from PJ's photo with ArtCraft

The National Hurricane Center is no longer issuing advisories on Rachel. The forecast below is the National Weather Service's own for each town.

Next up: NOAA has an El Niño Advisory in effect for this winter. El Niño 2026 in San Diego: the odds and how to get ready.

No measurable rain on the Solana Beach forecast for the next four days.

Seen by PJ: Rachel on the coast

The Moonlight State Beach sign and palms at the beach entrance in Encinitas under a gray sky, cars parked along the street (plates blurred) — **Sat 9:13am, Moonlight State Beach entrance:** Gray sky over the palms at the entrance, and the street parking is filling up.

The Moonlight Beach lot and the City of Encinitas Marine Safety Center under a gray sky, whitewater on the water behind it (plates and faces blurred) — **Sat 9:10am, Moonlight Beach, Encinitas:** Whitewater rolling in behind the City's Marine Safety Center, and people still out walking the lot. A few damp patches on the pavement, no steady rain yet. · animated from PJ's photo with ArtCraft

The D Street Viewpoint in Encinitas under a gray sky, a red DANGER Active Bluff Failure Zone sign posted at the beach stairs — **Sat 9:06am, D Street Viewpoint, Encinitas:** The posted sign at the stairs down to the beach reads DANGER: Active bluff failure zone. The Hurricane Center expects erosion to worsen tonight into Sunday morning's high tide, so give the bluffs room from above and below.

The American Legion San Dieguito Post on F Street in Encinitas under a gray sky, a giant Halloween skeleton on the roof (license plates blurred) — **Sat 9:02am, F Street, Encinitas:** Still dry under a gray sky at the American Legion's San Dieguito Post, the old reliable, giant Halloween skeleton and all.

A busy corner coffee shop at 2nd and F Streets in downtown Encinitas under a gray sky, pavement dry (faces blurred) — **Sat 8:58am, 2nd and F, downtown Encinitas:** Gray and dry, and the corner's busy: Necessity Coffee has its outdoor pastry rack out. No rain on the coast yet.

Photos by PJ, a local in Solana Beach, posted as he takes them. Seen something? Text it in.

Live: radar, rain so far, rivers

National Weather Service San Diego radar loop, the last hour — National Weather Service San Diego radar, the last hour, current every time you open this page. U.S. government image, public domain.

Rain so far (National Weather Service stations):

Carlsbad (McClellan-Palomar Airport): 0.00 in of rain since Sat 12am. Latest (Tue 9:15am): clear, wind 0 mph.
San Diego (Lindbergh Field): 0.00 in of rain since Sat 12am. Latest (Tue 9:15am): mostly clear, wind 7 mph.

River gauge	Now	Forecast peak	Minor flooding at
San Luis Rey River at Oceanside	5.8 ft (no flooding)	5.8 ft, Tue 9am	21 ft
Santa Margarita River at Ysidora	7.7 ft (no flooding)	7.4 ft, Tue 9am	12.5 ft
San Diego River at Fashion Valley	4.0 ft (no flooding)	3.9 ft, Tue 9am	10 ft

NOAA National Water Prediction Service. Creeks and low crossings can flood well before a river gauge does: turn around, don't drown.

Rain and rivers as of this page's last update, Tue 9:30am; the radar is live.

Rain and wind by town

Town	Tue 10/13	Wed 10/14	Thu 10/15	Fri 10/16	Total
Solana Beach	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in gust 29 mph	0.00 in
Del Mar	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in gust 29 mph	0.00 in
Encinitas	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in gust 28 mph	0.00 in
Carlsbad	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in
La Jolla	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in gust 31 mph	0.00 in
Escondido (inland)	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in	0.00 in gust 35 mph	0.00 in

National Weather Service gridpoint forecast for each town, rebuilt three times a day. Gusts shown at 25 mph or more.

At the coast today

Coastal Flood Advisory until Tue 2pm

Power right now: SDG&E shows no outages county-wide (as of 9:20AM). SDG&E outage map.

High tides: Right now the ocean at La Jolla is running 1.0 ft above the predicted tide (6.4 ft observed at 9:24am, NOAA preliminary data), so expect the high tides below to come in that much higher. Next high tides at La Jolla, predicted: Tue 10:33am (5.7 ft) · Wed 12:11am (3.4 ft) · Wed 10:59am (5.4 ft) · Thu 1:21am (3.1 ft). The National Hurricane Center says flooding and erosion are worst when the biggest waves land on a high tide. NOAA La Jolla water levels.

Get ready

Sandbags: Solana Beach has free pre-filled bags at City Hall, 635 S. Highway 101, up to 7 per household. Every free sandbag site in the county.
Before, during and after the storm: clear drains, charge phones, who to call.
Freeway closures tonight · North County alerts · El Niño this winter.
A hand: sandbags hauled to the door or a supply run, $25 a stop, Solana Beach to Encinitas. Text PJ.

Emergency resources

AlertSanDiego: the County's emergency alerts by text, call or email. Sign up before the storm.
ReadySanDiego and the County Office of Emergency Services: evacuations, shelters, road and flood updates.
Dial 2-1-1 (211 San Diego): shelters, food, help after the storm, any hour. Life in danger: 9-1-1.
After it passes: storm damage, what to do: insurance photos, California's contractor rules, a licensed-contractor check.
SDG&E outage map · Caltrans QuickMap for closed roads · National Weather Service San Diego.
Someone at home on oxygen or a CPAP: backup power and SDG&E Medical Baseline. A parent who lives alone: PJ checks in.

Has a hurricane ever hit San Diego?

Once on record. The 1858 San Diego hurricane is the only known tropical cyclone to reach California as a hurricane, and it damaged homes and buildings around San Diego. The 1939 Long Beach tropical storm is the only tropical storm known to make landfall in California. In August 2023, Hilary weakened before reaching the Southwest and brought flooding rain and mudslides.

Need a human?

This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.

Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · every 2027 Medicare plan · is my medication recalled? · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25. Your parent lives here and you don't? The Parent Check-In Plan, $25 a month.

Questions people ask

Will Tropical Storm Rachel hit San Diego?

The National Hurricane Center is no longer issuing advisories on Rachel.

How much rain will San Diego get from Rachel?

By the National Weather Service forecast: Solana Beach 0.00 in; Del Mar 0.00 in; Encinitas 0.00 in; Carlsbad 0.00 in; La Jolla 0.00 in; Escondido (inland) 0.00 in over the next four days.

When does the rain start in Solana Beach?

No measurable rain on the Solana Beach forecast for the next four days (National Weather Service, as of Oct 13, 9AM).

Is there a tropical storm warning for San Diego?

The National Hurricane Center is not issuing advisories for this storm. The County's AlertSanDiego sends official alerts by text.

Is a hurricane coming to California?

The only known hurricane to reach California was the 1858 San Diego hurricane; the 1939 Long Beach storm is the only tropical storm known to make landfall here.

Can I go in the ocean after the storm?

The County advises staying out of the ocean 72 hours after 0.2 inch of rain or more. Rip currents and surf run high while the swell lasts.

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