Southern California coastal communities are assessing the damage after a weekend of extreme weather brought widespread flooding and intense waves. The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel, which weakened into a post-tropical cyclone, impacted southern California, Mexico's Baja California, and Las Vegas.
In Long Beach, massive waves crashed into homes, destroying a boardwalk and forcing residents to evacuate. Significant damage to homes has left some at risk of collapse, with at least nine properties deemed unsafe to enter. The storm has cost the city over $1 million from its emergency reserves.
Further south, Newport Beach declared a local emergency and temporarily closed piers due to "higher-than-normal surf" that inundated streets. Cleanup efforts were underway by Monday, and piers have since reopened, though officials advise caution near the water.
Las Vegas experienced a torrent of water near the strip and tied an all-time daily rainfall record for October, with 1.08 inches (2.74cm) of rain recorded into Sunday morning, according to the US National Weather Service.
This extreme weather coincides with an exceptionally strong El Niño, which is supercharging the Pacific and leading to large, long-lasting storms. Models from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) indicate a high chance of a historic El Niño, potentially bringing severe storms, landslides, and destructive high tides to California this winter.