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We had quite a weekend here in southern California as hurricane Hilary made landfall as a tropical storm. Schools are closed today in San Diego and Los Angeles on what was supposed to be the start of the new school year. There were no deaths in LA County but the downpour certainly made a mess with flash floods, fallen trees and car accidents all over the place. The worst hit area appeared to be Palm Springs.
In Palm Springs, a local state of emergency was declared due “unprecedented rainfall and flooding of local roadways and at least one swift water rescue,” according to officials.
“Palm Springs police and fire continue to urge residents to stay home and avoid driving during these dangerous conditions,” a statement from the city said.
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain posted on social media Sunday afternoon that Palm Springs “recorded its heaviest hourly rainfall on record, and intense tropical downpours could continue for hours in the Coachella Valley.”
Dozens of people lost cars in the deluge. This is from Cathedral City:
FLOODING NEAR PALM SPRINGS: This video was taken in Cathedral City where the entrance to a gated community was covered in flood waters as #TropicalStormHilary continues to move across #SoCal. https://t.co/D1IhBlYGn1 pic.twitter.com/VLRz93UtdS
ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 21, 2023
Major Flash Flooding-Dozens of Vehicles Stranded-Water Rescues. 08-20-2023 Cathedral City, CA. #HurricaneHilary pic.twitter.com/DscWuWYGfN
— Kevin Luan (@steam_luan) August 21, 2023
Homes in Cathedral City were flooded as well.
