Storm expected to hit Baja California on Saturday evening before reaching southern California as rare tropical storm on Sunday
Hurricane Hilary is expected to enter the Baja California region on Saturday evening as a powerful hurricane before reaching southern California as a rare tropical storm on Sunday amid warnings of deadly flooding.
The National Hurricane Center warned of “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” from the storm through Monday, in its most recent forecast on Saturday morning, and told residents to expect heavy rain ahead of the center of the storm.
“Preparations for the impacts of flooding from rainfall should be completed as soon as possible, as heavy rain will increase ahead of the center today,” the forecast said. “In the south-western United States, flash, urban and arroyo flooding is expected, with dangerous and locally catastrophic impacts likely from tonight into Monday.”
Hurricane Hilary is currently a category 4 storm with winds of up to 130mph. Early on Saturday, the storm was centered approximately 240 miles (390km) west-south-west of the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.
Though the storm is expected to weaken today, it will likely stay a hurricane when it hits the coast of the Baja California peninsula. When it reaches southern California, it is forecasted to weaken to a tropical storm, the first to hit the region in 84 years.
National Weather Service Los Angeles warned residents to expect rain. Rain is also expected in Nevada and Arizona, hitting areas that had experienced a record-breaking heatwave this summer.
