Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall in Mexico’s Baja California coast, bringing a torrent of rain to the western United States. The storm, which weakened from a Category 4 hurricane, is expected to unleash life-threatening rain that could cause flooding and mudslides across the region. Forecasters warned that the rainfall could reach between three and six inches in many areas, with some higher amounts in isolated spots.
The storm’s trajectory put it in a path to make history as the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years. Forecasters expected flash floods, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, high winds, and power outages as a result of Hilary’s impact. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and California’s emergency preparedness office are working together to provide assistance to those affected by the storm.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as the storm approaches, and residents are being advised to take precautions and listen to guidance from state and local officials. The storm has left a region already reeling from wildfires and drought reeling, with California’s Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve closed to visitors to prevent stranded motorists.
Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall in Mexico’s Baja California coast
As Hilary makes its way across the region, residents are scrambling to prepare by filling sandbags, stocking up on supplies, and evacuating from high-risk areas. California’s Orange County issued an alert for residents living in wildfire burn scars, and authorities are working to get the homeless off the streets and into shelters. Los Angeles officials ordered all state beaches in San Diego and Orange counties closed, and Santa Catalina Island is urging residents and visitors to leave the tourist destination.
As the storm bears down on the region, residents are bracing for the worst, with the potential for up to 10 inches of rain in some areas. Forecasters warn that this could be a year’s worth of rain for some areas, leading to flash flooding and other hazards. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden urged everyone in the storm’s path to take precautions and listen to guidance from state and local officials.
In related news, another budding storm system in the Atlantic Ocean became Tropical Storm Emily on Sunday, located far from land and moving west in the open ocean. With Hilary’s arrival, the western United States is facing another major climate disaster, following on the heels of wildfires and heatwaves across the region.
