How a Pacific hurricane triggered record-breaking snowfall and flash floods across the American West

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In October 2026, Hurricane Rachel defied expectations by traveling from the Pacific Ocean into the Intermountain West. The storm brought rare tropical storm watches to California, triggered the first-ever cancellation of a major ultramarathon, and fueled a winter storm that buried parts of Montana under nearly two feet of snow.

Hurricane Rachel began as a low-pressure system south of Mexico on September 27, 2026. It rapidly organized into a tropical storm and intensified into a hurricane by September 30. By October 2, it reached its peak as a Category 3 major hurricane, packing sustained winds of 120 mph and a minimum pressure of 950 mbar. After this peak, the storm moved westward, fluctuating in intensity for nearly a week before an approaching trough forced an abrupt turn toward the Baja California peninsula.

As the system accelerated toward the coast, it transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone. Its impact was widespread and unusual; it prompted only the second tropical storm watch ever issued for California, following Hurricane Hilary in 2023. The storm caused significant disruption in Mexico, where five people died and five were reported missing. In California, high surf and coastal erosion rendered multiple structures unsafe in Long Beach, while heavy rainfall hit areas like Palomar Mountain, which recorded 3.89 inches of precipitation.

The storm's reach extended deep into the American interior. In Utah, the 2026 Moab 240 ultramarathon was cancelled after flash floods and fallen trees created dangerous conditions, requiring the rescue of 70 participants. Meanwhile, moisture from the system collided with a separate low-pressure front to dump heavy snow across Montana, with Checkerboard reporting up to 19 inches. Las Vegas also saw historic rainfall, tying its wettest October day on record. The cyclone finally dissipated over the Rocky Mountains on October 12, leaving behind a trail of flooded roads, power outages for over 9,500 Utah customers, and a rare meteorological footprint across the Western United States.

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