Tropical storm Hilary turns deadly in Mexico, pounds Southern California

Monday, August 21, 2023

Once a powerful Category 4 hurricane, Hilary made landfall in Mexico on Sunday while spreading flooding rain into Southern California.

One person near Santa Rosalia, Mexico, was killed by floodwaters, the government reported Sunday.

The Mexican military on Sunday said it had evacuated more than 2,500 people in Baja California who were in areas vulnerable to storm damage or who could no longer stay in their homes.

The army, which typically plays a key role in responding to Mexico’s natural disasters, said it had set up 35 shelters.

It rescued five people and evacuated 1,725, according to officials, and set up dozens of mobile kitchens to feed those who had to flee their homes.

The navy evacuated about 850 people from five islands: Guadalupe, Cedros, Margarita and Coronado, all west of the Baja California Peninsula; and Socorro to the south.

Hilary’s unusual track into California

Tropical Storm Hilary is located near Los Angeles, California at 8 p.m. PDT.

Flooding in Ocotillo, California, was reported by storm chasers early Sunday afternoon. Over 1,000 flights were cancelled on Sunday.

Wind gusts as high as 60 miles per hour and heavy rain are pounding portions of California on Sunday evening. As much as 6.72 inches of rain has fallen near Wrightwood, California in the last 48 hours.

As of 8 p.m. PDT, close to 35,000 customers in California are without power from the storm, and flood advisories have been issued for much of Southern California.

The wide-reaching storm closed parks and stymied air travellers in three states.

Las Vegas declared a state of emergency Sunday, and all state beaches and parks were closed in Orange and San Diego counties.

Governor Newsome of California proclaimed a state of emergency on Saturday as Hilary approached.

Boulders were reported on roadways in San Bernardino County and semi-trucks had flipped over on Interstate 8 near Gordon’s Well, California, according to reports from the National Weather Service Sunday afternoon.

Forecasters said Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, bringing floods, mudslides, high winds, power outages and the potential for isolated tornadoes.

The storm already dumped more than 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) of rain in some mountain communities and threatened more than an average year’s worth of rain in inland desert areas.

As evening fell in California, the National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned of significant flooding risk throughout populous mountain areas along the coast northeast of Los Angeles.

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