Storm Rachel batters California with fears more misery on the way

Storm Rachel batters California with fears more misery on the way At least one person has died and homes have been destroyed or damaged with their residents having been evacuated as Storm Rachel crashed into southern California Remnants of Storm Rachel unleashed massive waves that tore apart homes in southern California with fresh fears further surges could be on the way. Forecasters warned the greatest risk on Sunday came from high tides, but that today and tomorrow there could be surges which could damage low-lying areas in coastal California. Massive waves were seen crashing into homes in plush Long Beach California and smashing up boardwalks as the state dealt with its second-ever tropical storm watch. At least one house along the shoreline appeared to have suffered significant damage with shattered window glass left on the ground alongside broken wood. Other harrowing images showed the moment two people were rescued after getting stuck in a flood control channel in San Bernardino County. Firefighters said they were alerted by a man who claimed to have become trapped in rising waters - he and a woman inside a tunnel that fed into the main flood channel were pulled to safety. Brits urged to check flood risk now as 'extreme' El Nino winter looms UK snow forecast as maps show five inches and flurries as far south as Devon A possibly-homeless man died on Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey, in Los Angeles, during the storm, according to the LA County Fire Department Lifeguard Division. The National Weather Service said on Sunday that coastal flooding remains a threat in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo until Tuesday. California and other states on the West Coast of the US have been preparing for extreme weather events amid the record-setting El Niño. The latest forecast outlook from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center said on October 8 that El Niño "continues to strengthen" and more than 83 per cent likely to be a strong event until between January and March next year.