热带风暴蕾切尔逼近：河滨县发布洪水警戒，科切拉谷周末迎暴雨大风
热带风暴“蕾切尔”本周末逼近南加州，河滨县发布洪水警戒。据国家气象局消息，科切拉谷地区的洪水警戒将于周六晚11时生效，持续至周日晚间；同时发布的强风预警将于周日凌晨2时生效，持续至周一凌晨5时。
气象局预计，沙漠地区最大小时降雨量可达0.5至0.7英寸，山区可达0.7至1英寸，降雨最强的时段为周六深夜至周日下午早些时候。伴随降雨，科切拉谷周日清晨起将由东南风转为西风，风速约每小时10至20英里，阵风可达35至45英里。
气温方面，周日河滨市中心最高气温预计72华氏度，特梅库拉68度，赫米特69度，科切拉81度，棕榈泉77度；周一各地降温数度；周二起气温再度回升，河滨、特梅库拉、赫米特、科切拉和棕榈泉等地将重返80多至90出头的华氏度。
“蕾切尔”预计周六深夜至周日清晨在南加州最南部登陆，并于周日上午离开该地区。国家气象局提醒，强降雨可能引发城市内涝与突发洪水，居民应避免前往易积水路段，风暴期间密切关注官方发布的紧急预警，提前做好防洪准备。
需要说明的是，“洪水警戒”意味着当前气象条件有利于洪水发生，虽尚未发布更高级别的洪水警告，但沿河谷低洼地带、排水不良路段以及山区公路的风险显著上升。气象局建议居民提前清理屋顶排水沟、将户外物品固定或移入室内，驾车时如遇积水路面应掉头避让，切勿冒险涉水通过；风暴期间尽量减少不必要的外出，并多留意家中老人与独居邻居的安全。据MyNewsLA引述国家气象局10月10日报道。
Tropical Storm Rachel approaches: flood watch issued for Riverside County, heavy rain and strong winds hit Coachella Valley this weekend
Tropical Storm Rachel is bearing down on Southern California this weekend, and a flood watch has been issued for Riverside County. According to the National Weather Service, a flood watch for the Coachella Valley takes effect at 11 p.m. Saturday and remains in effect through Sunday evening, while a wind advisory takes effect at 2 a.m. Sunday and lasts until 5 a.m. Monday.
The weather service expects maximum hourly rainfall rates of 0.5 to 0.7 inches across desert areas and 0.7 to 1 inch per hour across the mountains, with the heaviest rainfall most likely from late Saturday night through early Sunday afternoon. Along with the rain, southeast winds early Sunday will become westerly at 10 to 20 mph, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph in the Coachella Valley.
Temperatures on Sunday were expected to reach highs of 72 in downtown Riverside, 68 in Temecula, 69 in Hemet, 81 in Coachella and 77 in Palm Springs. Monday was expected to be a few degrees cooler, with temperatures climbing again starting Tuesday back into the high 80s and low 90s across Riverside, Temecula, Hemet, Coachella and Palm Springs.
Rachel is expected to make landfall across far southern California Saturday night into early Sunday morning and exit the area by Sunday morning. The National Weather Service warns that heavy rain could trigger urban and flash flooding, and urges residents to avoid flood-prone roads and stay tuned to official emergency alerts.
A flood watch means conditions are favorable for flooding: while no higher-level flood warning has been issued, the risk rises significantly in low-lying valley areas, poor-drainage roadways and mountain roads. The weather service advises residents to clear roof gutters in advance, secure or move outdoor items indoors, and to turn around rather than drive through flooded roadways; limit unnecessary travel during the storm and check on elderly household members and neighbors living alone. Reported by MyNewsLA, citing the National Weather Service on Oct. 10.
图片来源：河滨县科切拉谷棕榈泉街景，Patrick Nouhailler 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0（Wikimedia Commons）
