Topline
National Guard teams are standing by in Southern California in anticipation of “catastrophic flooding,” heavy rains and 80 mph winds brought by Hurricane Hilary, which is expected to hit Mexico and weaken into a tropical storm, before it reaches Southern California and becomes the first storm of such magnitude to hit the area since 1939.
People stand on a pier as others body board in the Pacific Ocean with Hurricane Hilary approaching … [+]
Key Facts
The town of Santa Rosalía in the Mexican state of Baja California had experienced “very severe” damage, as of 10:45 a.m. Sunday, with mayor Edith Aguilar Villavicencio describing downed poles and branches, while officials in the Mexican city of San Quintín said no damage has been reported so far, according to the New York Times.
The storm—now a Category 1 hurricane—is expected to make landfall in Mexico in the late morning Sunday and move north past Tijuana and San Diego before continuing toward San Bernardino east of Los Angeles.
The National Weather Service said it expects heavy rainfall that could bring as many as 10 inches of rain to some parts of Southern California and last into Monday, leading to potentially “locally catastrophic flooding impacts” as some locations “are slated to get 1-2 years worth of rain in one day.”
On Saturday, Nancy Ward, the director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, warned the storm “could be one of the most devastating storms that we’ve had hit California in more than a decade.”
What To Watch For
When the storm makes landfall. Hillary is expected to hit Mexico late Sunday morning and Saul Gonzalez of KQED told NPR the “full brunt” of the storm is expected to reach San Diego by the mid to late afternoon.
Gusts of wind are felt in the port area of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California State, Mexico, before the … [+]
Key Background
Hurricane Hilary strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane Friday as it moved off the coast of Baja California but was downgraded three times on Saturday. Evacuation warnings have been issued for the eastern Orange County mountains and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a local emergency declaration ahead of the storm. By the time the weather reaches Southern California, the National Weather Service has warned of “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” through Monday. A hurricane warning is in effect for Baja California from Punta Abreojos to Cabo San Quintin, a hurricane watch for the Baja California peninsula north of Cabo San Quintin and a tropical storm warning for the rest of the peninsula, the California/Mexico border and Catalina Island.
Surprising Fact
California has not seen a tropical storm make landfall since record keeping began in 1949, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Jesse Ferrell. A tropical cyclone killed nearly 100 people in September 1939, the New York Times reported, but the only tropical storm with hurricane-force winds is believed to have last hit Southern California when a hurricane struck San Diego in October of 1858.
Big Number
12 feet. That’s the highest waves reached in Baja California Sunday.
Further Reading
Here’s Just How Rare West Coast Hurricanes—Like Hilary—Really Are (Forbes)
Hurricane Hilary Causes California’s 1st Ever Tropical Storm Watch—What About 1939? (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/08/20/hurricane-hilary-wind-and-rain-slam-mexico-as-southern-california-braces-for-first-tropical-storm-in-84-years/