The National Weather Service has a Beach Hazards Statement in effect for Los Angeles County beaches through late Thursday night, Oct. 22, with surf of 3 to 6 feet and dangerous rip currents. Separately, the state’s emergency proclamation for Tropical Storm Rachel includes Los Angeles County.
Rain also reached the South Bay on Wednesday. NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard issued a Flood Advisory until 7:15 p.m. for far southern Los Angeles County, citing thunderstorms and minor flooding in low-lying areas.
Beach and surf conditions
The Beach Hazards Statement was issued Oct. 19 for Ventura County beaches, the Malibu Coast and Los Angeles County beaches. The NWS says the elevated surf raises the risk of drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea, and waves can wash people off beaches and rocks.
Minor beach erosion and tidal overflow may occur on south-facing beaches, especially along the Malibu Coast and in the Long Beach area. The simplest precaution is to stay off jetties and rocks and to swim only near a staffed lifeguard tower. Current alerts are posted on the NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard page.
Wednesday’s flood advisory
The advisory named Long Beach, Torrance, Rancho Palos Verdes, Carson, the Port of Los Angeles, Wilmington, Compton, Gardena and Hawthorne, among other communities. The expected impacts were water over roadways and minor flooding where drainage is poor. Drivers should avoid flooded lanes, since even shallow moving water can stall a car.
The NWS has also flagged possible debris flows near recent burn scars during heavier bursts of rain. If you live below a burn area, check your city’s alert system for local notices.
The state emergency
On Oct. 15, Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The storm began Oct. 11 and brought strong winds, heavy rain, hazardous surf, coastal erosion and road disruptions.
The proclamation makes state help available to local governments under the California Disaster Assistance Act. It also directs Caltrans to ask the Federal Highway Administration for aid with eligible storm damage to highways and related infrastructure. That means repair work could follow on some roads in the coming weeks.
What comes next
High tides are a further concern. Newport Beach in Orange County declared a local emergency on Oct. 20 ahead of king tides expected Oct. 26 to 28, according to City News Service. That report did not mention Los Angeles County beaches, but low-lying coastal areas often see similar tidal effects, so it is worth watching forecasts for your beach.
For other region-wide updates, see our Los Angeles and California guide. This article is general information, and conditions can change quickly.