Tropical Storm Rachel was downgraded to a post-tropical storm Sunday, Oct. 11, after bringing flooding, damaging surf and heavy rain to Southern California. Its remnants moved inland across the Southwest, with forecasters warning of continued rain, wind gusts and flash-flood risks. Along the coast, high surf breached sand berms built to protect shoreline neighborhoods. Oceanfront homes in Long Beach and Newport Beach were partly submerged, and crews worked to clear storm damage along Long Beach’s Alamitos Peninsula. Flood warnings remained in effect for much of the California coast, from San Diego to the San Francisco Bay area, while hazardous surf continued to threaten coastal communities. The storm also brought impacts inland. Rockslides temporarily blocked some roads as Rachel moved northeast. Las Vegas set a daily rainfall record Sunday, and the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for much of Utah, including Salt Lake City, where heavy rain was expected to begin Sunday evening. The episode comes as California officials prepare for a winter that forecasters say could bring the strongest El Niño on record. The climate pattern, associated with warmer-than-average ocean temperatures, is expected to increase the risk of heavy rainfall, powerful surf and mudslides into next year. Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation last month to mobilize resources and prepare residents and critical infrastructure for severe weather. The state said it is positioning more than 4 million sandbags, over 50,000 feet of portable flood barriers and 400,000 tons of rock for levee repairs. Officials are also inspecting dams and reinforcing supports for beach piers. Rachel offered a near-term test of those preparations, as communities dealt with coastal flooding and inland rain while the winter storm season approached.