The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel brought heavy rain and gusty winds to parts of Southern California on Sunday, while high surf and elevated tides led officials to close coastal piers and warn people to stay out of the ocean. The National Weather Service downgraded Rachel on Sunday, but warned that its remnants could still produce heavy rain and gusty winds across portions of the southwestern United States. The agency said significant flash and urban flooding remained possible from Southern California into the Great Basin. Newport Beach declared a state of emergency over the weekend. On Sunday morning, city officials urged residents and visitors to avoid the ocean because of high surf, strong winds and elevated tides. Newport Pier, Balboa Pier and the Wedge were closed until further notice. Crews were building sand berms to shield property and infrastructure, and officials warned people to stay off the berms. Coastal flood warnings for Los Angeles County were in effect through Monday or Tuesday. The greatest risk was expected Sunday, when high tides could reach 8 feet. The weather service warned that localized seawater flooding was likely, particularly in Long Beach, Avalon and Malibu. Forecast high tides were as high as 7.6 feet Monday, 7.4 feet Tuesday and 7.1 feet Wednesday. Rain was expected to continue across the Los Angeles area through Monday evening, with totals of up to 1 inch in much of the region and as much as 3 inches in the San Gabriel Mountains. Forecast amounts included up to half an inch in Beaumont, in Riverside County, and 0.7 inches at Mount Laguna, east of San Diego. The Bay Area had a coastal flood advisory through Tuesday and a beach hazards statement warning of sneaker waves, strong rip currents and breaking waves as high as 16 feet, a height recorded at Point Reyes. But those conditions were not tied to Rachel. Karleisa Rogacheski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said strong northerly winds had been building the seas. Winds in the region were running about 25 to 40 mph, with gusts of 30 to 45 mph, Rogacheski said. High tides of up to 1.4 feet were possible in low-lying areas from Cloverdale to Monterey. Rain chances had diminished in the Bay Area and Central Coast, but forecasters expected cooler weather, with coastal and North Bay highs in the mid-to-upper 50s and inland highs from the low 60s to low 70s. Rogacheski cautioned people to stay off jetties, piers and rocks, where waves can surge unexpectedly. Officials also advised drivers to avoid flooded roads and never go around barricades.