Rare tropical storm watch issued in California for weekend threat
San Diego is under a tropical storm watch for only the second time on record
Tropical weather alerts are in effect for parts of California for only the second time in modern history as Tropical Storm Rachel quickly approaches the region.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a tropical storm watch for San Diego County on Friday morning. Forecasters expect potentially dangerous winds to spread over the region overnight Saturday into Sunday morning.
Farther south, Hurricane Simon is rapidly strengthening and will likely hit Mexico as a Category 4 storm this weekend.
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Tropical storm watch for San Diego
Tropical Storm Rachel was located about 1,300 km southwest of San Diego on Friday as it picked up speed on a northeasterly track toward the region.
The NHC issued a tropical storm watch for San Diego County for only the second time on record. Additional watches and warnings are in effect for portions of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.
“Damaging wind gusts associated with Rachel and its remnants are expected to spread over portions of northwestern Mexico and interior portions of the Southwest United States, especially in areas of higher terrain, Saturday night and Sunday,” the NHC said on Friday morning.
Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along the region’s coastline into this weekend. Additionally, heavy rain may lead to a risk for flash flooding throughout southern California and the desert Southwest.
Tropical cyclones are exceptionally rare in southern California as waters in this region are far too cold to support these storms. While the remnants of tropical systems arrive here every couple of years, history only holds a handful of full-blown tropical storm or hurricane strikes.
Hurricane Hilary prompted the first-ever tropical storm watches and warnings for southern California when it moved toward the region in Aug. 2023.
Simon set to hit Mexico as a Category 4
Hurricane Simon is rapidly intensifying as it encounters a favourable environment off the western shores of Mexico.
The NHC expects the system to further intensify into a powerful Category 4 hurricane by the time it makes landfall early Sunday between the cities of Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
Destructive winds will cause major damage around the point of landfall. Simon will push a life-threatening storm surge into the coastline.
Tropical downpours could produce more than 500 mm of rain in some areas, with the highest totals expected across mountainous terrain. Flash flooding and mudslides are likely.
Pacific season quickly nearing most active on record
This year’s hyperactive season in the northeastern Pacific is quickly nearing the number-one position for the most active year on record.
According to Colorado State University, the region’s Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) through Friday afternoon amounted to 304.0, making this the second-most active season on record. The top spot saw an ACE value of 318.1 in 2018.
ACE takes into account the intensity and longevity of a basin’s tropical storms and hurricanes. Stronger, longer-lasting storms generate higher ACE values. An average northeastern Pacific hurricane season generates an ACE of 132.7.