California Faces Unprecedented Impact from 2026 Pacific Hurricane Season

California is experiencing the most active eastern Pacific hurricane season in recent memory. In early October, Tropical Storm Rachel moved toward the coast, prompting the first tropical‑storm watch for Southern California in three years. The system produced high tides, coastal flooding, and up to 6 inches of rain in parts of the state, sparking flash floods from San Diego to the desert Southwest and even reaching Las Vegas. Rachel weakened into an extratropical cyclone before hitting Baja California, but its waves damaged coastal homes and flooded streets in Long Beach, Newport Beach, and other Southern California communities. The 2026 season also saw three hurricanes strike Hawaii and Hurricane Marie generate damaging swells off Los Angeles. El Niño‑driven warm sea‑surface temperatures off Baja California helped sustain Rachel’s tropical characteristics, underscoring how climate patterns can shift storm behavior.