Tropical Storm Hilary is approaching Southern California after wreaking havoc in Mexico. As of 8 a.m. Pacific time on Sunday, the storm was located about 220 miles south-southeast of San Diego, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm, now a tropical storm after downgrading from a Category 1 hurricane, is still packed with heavy rain and forecasters are warning of “catastrophic and life-threatening” flooding in southern parts of the U.S.
Earlier, in Santa Rosalía, a town on the Baja California peninsula’s east coast, a person drowned when a vehicle was swept away in an overflowed stream. Officials are not clear if this fatality is directly related to the storm. Rescue crews managed to save four other individuals.
The storm is expected to make history as the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years. Predicted impacts include flash floods, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, high winds, and power outages. Moreover, officials have issued an evacuation advisory for Santa Catalina Island, urging residents and beachgoers to leave this tourist attraction located off the coast.
In Mexico, the navy has evacuated 850 people from islands off the Baja coast and deployed almost 3,000 troops for emergency operations. Beaches in Tijuana were ordered closed, and multiple storm shelters were established around the city. Mexico’s Pacific coast is also bracing for “life-threatening” surf and rip currents, with waves reaching up to 40 feet high.
Meanwhile, in California, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm. He urged residents to complete their preparations before sundown Saturday, cautioning that it could be too late by Sunday.
Tropical Storm Hilary is the latest in a series of major climate disasters to hit the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Experts are warning that the storm could dump up to 10 inches of rain, equal to a year’s worth for some areas, in Southern California and Southern Nevada.
Despite weakening, officials warn that the threat posed by Hilary remains high, especially regarding the potential for flooding. Authorities across Southern California are urging residents to take precautions and heed the advice of state and local officials.