Post-tropical Rachel floods Southern California, drenches Las Vegas
What's next: Flood warnings stayed up along much of California's coast, and Utah faced heavy rain as Rachel's remnants moved inland.
Rachel weakened to a post-tropical storm Sunday after driving flooding, destructive surf and road blockages across Southern California before pushing into the desert Southwest. In Long Beach and Newport Beach, ocean water surged past protective sand berms and partially flooded oceanfront homes, while high surf continued to pound coastal communities. Flood warnings remained in effect along much of the California coast, from San Diego to the San Francisco Bay Area. Inland, rain in Las Vegas set a daily record and left water knee-deep in places near the Strip, while some rockslides briefly closed roads. The National Weather Service also posted a flood watch for much of Utah, including Salt Lake City, as the storm's remnants tracked northeast.