00:00Hurricane Rachel is packing sustained winds of 85 mph as it moves west in the eastern Pacific.
00:06But the storm is expected to turn back toward Mexico
00:09and send heavy rain into drought-stricken areas of Arizona and Utah by early next week.
00:15AccuWeather meteorologists say this moisture could ease drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin.
00:21Rachel's rain, combined with a non-tropical storm steered by a dip in the jet stream,
00:26could bring between 1 and 8 inches of rain across parts of the southwest.
00:30However, the added downpours also raise concerns about flooding, mudslides,
00:35and flows of water and debris in vulnerable terrain.
00:38Meanwhile, swells from Rachel will bring large waves
00:41and dangerous surf to coasts in northwestern Mexico and California through the weekend.
00:45Rachel is not expected to be as strong as earlier hurricanes this season,
00:49but its moisture could still reshape the southwest's weather next week.
00:53Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
