California is watching an unusual tropical weather threat develop in the Pacific, as Hurricane Rachel’s shifting path raises questions about how much of the storm could reach Southern California and when residents might begin feeling its effects.
San Diego is drawing particular attention because of its proximity to the Mexican border and the Pacific coast. But the concern extends beyond one city. Depending on how Rachel evolves, coastal communities, inland valleys and desert areas could experience different impacts, even if the storm’s center never makes landfall in California.
The biggest question is no longer simply where Rachel is heading. It is whether the system can carry enough tropical moisture and energy north to create dangerous conditions far from its original track.
When could Rachel reach California?
According to the National Hurricane Center’s early Thursday, October 8 advisory, Rachel has weakened into a tropical storm, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. The system was located roughly 895 miles west of the southern tip of Baja California and was expected to turn northeast later in the week…