As Hurricane Hilary advances towards Southern California, residents are preparing for an unusual storm event that the region hasn’t experienced in decades. Currently classified as a Category 1 hurricane by the National Weather Service, Hilary is expected to have weakened into a tropical storm by the time it reaches Southern California. However, it could still bring along “catastrophic” flooding and strong winds.
Considering the rarity of such weather events in California, weather experts are revisiting two notable storms from the past – a September 1939 tropical storm in Los Angeles and Hurricane Kathleen – to inform their predictions about Hurricane Hilary.
In September 1939, Southern California experienced four tropical cyclones in quick succession, each making landfall at different stages of cyclone development. The first three storms were remnants of hurricanes that had made landfall in Baja California, a route that Hurricane Hilary seems to be following. The fourth storm, an unnamed tropical storm, made landfall directly in Southern California near San Pedro, leaving behind widespread destruction and loss.
In September 1976, Hurricane Kathleen made landfall in Baja California before moving northward into California and Arizona, weakening into a tropical storm in the process. The central and southern mountain communities of California were the hardest hit by Kathleen, with desert areas east of the mountains also suffering significant damage due to flooding.
Based on its current trajectory, Hurricane Hilary could play out similarly to Hurricane Kathleen. However, the 1939 tropical cyclone’s impact serves as a reminder of the potentially devastating effects of such storms.
In light of the approaching storm, authorities are urging residents to take Hurricane Hilary seriously and stay alert to emergency notifications, especially those living in flood-prone areas.