SAN DIEGO, October 11, 2026 — Update to our October 10 story. The tropical storm watch for the San Diego coast has been dropped. Rachel moved inland overnight as a post-tropical cyclone and is forecast to dissipate by Sunday afternoon, October 11. Rain and gusty winds continue across the region.
What changed since Saturday
- Watch discontinued: the National Hurricane Center (NHC) ended the tropical storm watch for the Southern California coast in its 2 a.m. PDT Sunday advisory.
- Where the storm is: at 2 a.m. the center was about 60 miles east-northeast of San Diego, moving north at 25 mph. Top winds were near 50 mph, down from 60 mph on Saturday.
- No longer tropical: the NHC reclassified Rachel as post-tropical late Saturday. By 11 p.m. its center was about 80 miles south-southeast of San Diego, The Rio Times reports.
- Still to come on Sunday: the NHC forecasts 1 to 3 inches of rain, locally 5 inches, from Southern California into the Great Basin, with flash and urban flooding possible. Dangerous surf and coastal flooding continue.
- Flights: we could not open a current count of delays or cancellations at San Diego International Airport (SAN) on Sunday morning. Numbers: TBA.
- FAA: the agency’s airport status feed, updated Saturday evening, showed no delay program at SAN.
- Waivers: Alaska’s and American’s alert pages listed no San Diego waiver when we checked on Sunday.
What it means for travelers
- The worst-case scenario did not arrive, but Sunday morning is still wet and windy. SAN has a single runway, so it has little room to absorb weather slowdowns.
- Afternoon and evening look better than morning. The NHC expects the system to be gone by Sunday afternoon.
- Watch where your flight is going. The same weather is moving toward Las Vegas and Phoenix. A delay at the other end holds your San Diego departure on the ground.
- With no waivers in place, passengers are not being moved off Sunday flights for free. Flights should look much like a normal Sunday.
- Allow extra drive time. Flooded streets are possible on the way to the airport.
Sources
- National Hurricane Center — Post-Tropical Cyclone Rachel Advisory Number 57
- The Rio Times — Storm Rachel Hits Baja California, Over 100 Evacuated
- FAA — National Airspace System airport status information
- Alaska Airlines — Travel advisories
- American Airlines — Travel alerts
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