Hurricane Rachel could impact San Diego as storm path shifts north

Hurricane Rachel has taken a sharp turn toward Southern California and forecasters say it could arrive early Sunday as a weaker, post-tropical storm.

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.

Residents in Southern California and the desert communities should start watching for updates, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service says a large weather system moving in from the northwest will push Rachel off course.

“This will cause Rachel to slow down and then turn and accelerate toward Baja California and southern California,” the agency said in its latest advisory.

The storm is expected to lose strength along the way. Forecasters say cooler ocean water and dry air should gradually weaken it before it arrives.

The NWS added that the forecast could change a lot in the coming days, so the exact landfall spot and timing are still uncertain.

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