2 Storms Bring Flood Risks to Mexico and the Southwest

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Hurricane Simon was hugging the west coast of Mexico early Sunday, while Post-Tropical Storm Rachel moved inland late Saturday, bringing heavy rain and high winds.

Hurricane Simon and Post-Tropical Storm Rachel threatened on Sunday to bring torrential rain, dangerous coastal flooding and destructive surf to parts of western Mexico and the Southwestern United States in close succession.

Rachel moved inland across northern Baja California late Saturday night local time, the National Hurricane Center said. Although the storm had weakened, its remnants were expected to continue producing heavy rain and gusty winds across parts of northern Baja California and the Southwest, with the potential for significant flash flooding.

Several Southern California cities restricted access to parts of the shoreline and warned residents to stay away from the shore.

Rachel was closely followed by Hurricane Simon, which forecasters at the National Hurricane Center described as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm late Saturday. Early on Sunday, Simon was moving toward the coast of west-central Mexico and was expected to move near or over the coast later in the day. Forecasters said it remained uncertain whether Simon would make landfall, with even a small shift in its track potentially affecting how quickly it weakened.

Key Things to Know

Post-Tropical Storm Rachel moved inland across northern Baja California late Saturday. The storm brought widespread showers and cooler conditions to the region, but it also poses a moderate risk of flash flooding from San Diego to Las Vegas. The Hurricane Center said that south-facing beaches would be vulnerable on Sunday morning to coastal flooding from expected high tides of around eight feet.

Hurricane Simon has rapidly intensified off the west coast of Mexico, threatening the shoreline with dangerous winds, storm surge and heavy rainfall. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said early Sunday that Simon was expected to move near or over the coast of west-central Mexico later in the day, although its exact track remained uncertain.

Post-Tropical Storm Rachel

The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel brought flooding, debris flows and strong winds to parts of Southern California late Saturday, as the system moved inland across northern Baja California. The National Weather Service had issued a tropical storm watch for San Diego County, only the second time the county has received such a watch, following Hurricane Hilary in 2023. The watch was called off early Sunday.