Rachel's remnants bring coastal flooding to Southern California ahead of weekend arrival
Former Hurricane Rachel, now a tropical storm expected to weaken to a post-tropical system, turned toward Baja California and Southern California. Large waves and high tides damaged the Long Beach Peninsula on 8–9 October, and forecasters expect more impacts into early next week.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1On 7 October the National Weather Service said a large weather system moving in from the northwest would push Hurricane Rachel off course, making it slow down, then turn and accelerate toward Baja California and Southern California. New York PostR “This will cause Rachel to slow down and then turn and accelerate toward Baja California and southern California,” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The first forecast showed Rachel coming ashore about 100 miles south of San Diego as a weaker, post-tropical storm, though the path could shift as far north as Orange County. The NWS said the forecast could change a lot, so the landfall spot and timing were uncertain. New York PostR “The current forecast shows it coming ashore about 100 miles south of San Diego, but the path could shift as far north as Orange County.”“the exact landfall spot and timing are still uncertain” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Forecasters expected cooler ocean water and dry air to weaken the storm. Meteorologists quoted by the New York Post said the main threats would be heavy rain, thunderstorms and dangerous surf rather than hurricane-force winds. New York PostR “meaning the biggest threat won’t be hurricane-force winds but rather heavy rain, thunderstorms and dangerous surf.” Read at New York Post ↗ New York PostR “cooler ocean water and dry air should gradually weaken it before it arrives” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Meteorologist Jason Farhang forecast waves of 10 to 12 feet, possibly a rogue wave of 15 feet, along the coast from San Luis Obispo to Ensenada. He said coastal flooding was very likely from Sunday to Wednesday. Rainfall totals were forecast at a quarter-inch to half an inch across much of the region, with some models ranging from a tenth of an inch to 2 inches. New York PostR “wave heights of 10 to 12 feet, maybe even a rogue wave up to 15 feet along San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties all the way down to Ensenada, Mexico,”“Some weather models, however, are showing totals ranging from just a tenth of an inch to as much as 2 inches.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1By 8 October the storm had been downgraded to a tropical storm and was sending large swells into Long Beach. Coastal flood advisories covered Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Diego county coasts, the Malibu Coast and the Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands. The New York Post reported that current NOAA forecasts had landfall late Saturday night, and that it could be the first tropical storm to make landfall in Southern California since 1939. It said the intensity at landfall was unclear. New York PostR “Current NOAA forecasts say it will stay a tropical storm, becoming the first such storm to make landfall in SoCal since 1939.”“Coastal Flood Advisories are already in place for LA County Beaches, Ventura County Beaches, the Malibu Coast, and the Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Long Beach distributed sandbags from Thursday through the following Tuesday. Officials noted that the Peninsula had already been damaged by earlier storms, Hurricanes Marie and Polo. A North Carolina State University scientist said an ongoing Kelvin wave, which raises background sea levels, could worsen damage if a storm or high tide coincides with it. New York PostR “Long Beach officials are already urging residents to prepare for a storm again after Hurricane Marie and Polo damaged its coast.”“if there are storms forecasted or a high tide coming up, that is when the Kelvin wave could exacerbate damages.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1On Friday 9 October, high tide shortly after 9 a.m. tore sections of the Long Beach Peninsula boardwalk apart and left one home close to collapse, according to the New York Post, citing KTLA. Floodwater swamped nearby streets and patios. Fire officials said one home was red-tagged Thursday and two others yellow-tagged; all were unoccupied, and crews were assessing whether evacuations were needed. New York PostR “Powerful waves from former Hurricane Rachel tore apart sections of the Long Beach Peninsula boardwalk Friday morning, leaving one home on the verge of collapsing into the ocean.”“Fire officials said one home was red-tagged Thursday and two others received yellow tags.” Read at New York Post ↗ Centre · 1The Hindustan Times described a roughly 30-foot section of seawall and boardwalk damaged, ankle-deep floodwater in places, and restricted vehicle access at locations including 62nd Place. It said city inspectors marked two buildings containing three residential units unsafe to enter, and that emergency crews placed sandbags and reinforced barriers. It also reported street flooding in Newport Beach, including a video reportedly showing flooding near 15th Street and West Balboa Boulevard. Hindustan TimesN “A roughly 30-foot section of the protective seawall and boardwalk was damaged, allowing seawater to spill onto nearby streets and reach homes.”“City inspectors also marked two buildings containing three residential units as unsafe to enter.”“A video shared on social media reportedly shows street flooding near 15th Street and West Balboa Boulevard in Newport Beach.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Mixed · 2Officials warned conditions could get worse. The New York Post said the threat could peak Sunday night into Monday, when stronger swells and high tides combine, and that the National Weather Service expects a storm surge of about 7 feet on Monday. The Hindustan Times said waves of 3 to 5 feet were expected in Orange County, with some sets of 6 or 7 feet. New York PostR “The National Weather Service expects Monday’s storm surge to reach about 7 feet.” Read at New York Post ↗ Hindustan TimesN “Waves are expected to reach 3 to 5 feet, with some sets potentially rising to 6 or 7 feet.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Centre · 1As of the morning of 9 October, the Hindustan Times placed Rachel hundreds of miles southwest of San Diego, moving northeast. It said forecasts indicated the storm could weaken to a post-tropical system or remnant low as it approached the coast over the weekend. Hindustan TimesN “As of the morning of October 9, Rachel was located hundreds of miles southwest of San Diego and moving northeast.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Right · 1The New York Post also placed Rachel within a wider active period. It said the storm was expected to approach northern Baja California and the northern Gulf of California at tropical-storm strength, that its moisture could cause flash flooding in the Southwest, and that Hurricane Simon was threatening Mexico's west-central coast while Isaias, a Gulf Coast hurricane, approached the US. New York PostR “Rachel is expected to approach northern Baja and the northern Gulf of California at tropical-storm strength this weekend, triggering potential Tropical Storm Watches.”“Rachel’s moisture will also spread inland, threatening the Southwest with flash flooding and high-terrain gusty winds.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The Hindustan Times gave a single, measured service-style report on coastal flooding in Long Beach and Newport Beach, based on videos circulating online and official advisories.
- Emphasis
- Specific local damage details, building inspections, sandbagging, expected wave heights and advice to residents.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the Sunday–Monday surge forecast of about 7 feet, the 1939 landfall comparison, or the earlier forecast history and rainfall totals.
- For example
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“Videos circulating online show waves crashing against seawalls and flooding nearby roads.” — Hindustan Times
“Residents are advised to follow local weather alerts and avoid flooded roads and dangerous shoreline areas.” — Hindustan Times
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The New York Post ran a series of escalating, dramatic updates, from a path shift to forecasters being stunned, then to waves smashing the coast and a home on the brink of collapse. It also framed Rachel as part of a multi-storm threat to the US.
- Emphasis
- Wave and storm-surge impacts, vivid damage descriptions, quotes from meteorologists and KTLA, a possible first Southern California tropical-storm landfall since 1939, and the relief from record heat.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives few precise figures on the Long Beach damage extent (such as the 30-foot seawall section) and does not mention Newport Beach flooding.
- Charged language
- “massive turn”“leaves forecasters stunned”“explodes into hurricane”“tempest”“triple threat”“multi-front assault”
- For example
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“Hurricane Rachel has taken a sharp turn toward Southern California” — New York Post
“While Simon threatens Mexico and Rachel targets Baja, the US faces a multi-front assault.” — New York Post
“Beachfront home on brink of collapse as tropical storm batters Southern California” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Rachel, a former hurricane, is approaching Southern California and Baja California and is expected to weaken to a post-tropical system.
- Waves and high tides have damaged the Long Beach Peninsula boardwalk and flooded streets on 9 October.
- Officials expect flooding and erosion to worsen during upcoming high tides.
Where accounts differ
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Which Long Beach buildings were declared unsafe
- Centre
- City inspectors marked two buildings containing three residential units unsafe to enter.
- Right
- Fire officials red-tagged one home Thursday and yellow-tagged two others; all unoccupied.
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Rachel's current category and landfall timing
- Centre
- Calls it a tropical storm expected to weaken to a post-tropical system or remnant low over the weekend, with no exact landfall time.
- Right
- Headlines called it a hurricane ("explodes into hurricane"), while the text described tropical-storm strength; arrival was variously given as early Sunday or late Saturday night.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Neutral Service-style report on coastal flooding in Long Beach and Newport Beach with specific damage details, forecasts and safety advice.
Right5 articles
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Hurricane takes massive turn toward California as major city braces
Alarmist Leads with a 'massive turn' toward California and a city bracing, while relaying NWS caveats about uncertainty and weakening.
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Mixed Contrasts record heat with 'tropical storm misery' and quotes meteorologists on rain and 15-foot waves, noting the rain may be welcome.
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Hurricane-force waves smash California coast as tempest looms — with flash flood warnings
Alarmist Describes waves smashing the coast and a looming 'tempest', with a 1939 landfall comparison, advisories and Kelvin-wave context.
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Alarmist Presents Rachel as one of a 'triple threat' of storms, with a headline saying it explodes into a hurricane though the text says tropical-storm strength.
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Beachfront home on brink of collapse as tropical storm batters Southern California
Alarmist Focuses on a boardwalk shredding and a home on the brink of collapse, using KTLA footage and quotes, with warnings of worse to come.
- 7 Oct 21:18 First New York PostR Hurricane takes massive turn toward California as major city braces
- 8 Oct 01:33 +4h 16m New York PostR Hurricane Rachel leaves forecasters stunned as it gains strength toward Pacific coast — what it means for California
- 8 Oct 15:40 +18h 22m New York PostR Hurricane-force waves smash California coast as tempest looms — with flash flood warnings
- 8 Oct 22:41 +25h 23m New York PostR Tropical storm explodes into hurricane set to batter vacation hotspot — as US triple threat approaches
- 9 Oct 18:17 +44h 59m New York PostR Beachfront home on brink of collapse as tropical storm batters Southern California
- 9 Oct 18:33 +45h 15m Hindustan TimesN California flooding: Newport Beach and Long Beach hit ahead of Tropical Storm Rachel's expected landfall; videos emerge
- 9 Oct 19:10 +45h 53m Hindustan TimesN Tropical Storm Rachel tracker: Latest path, California landfall forecast and cities at risk
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.