Tropical Storm Hilary batters California with dangerous flooding, mudslides, power outages
Tropical Storm Hilary made its landfall on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula late Sunday night before moving to Southern California, causing flash flood warnings around Los Angeles.
Hilary was downgraded from Category 1 Hurricane to Tropical Storm status early on Sunday. The National Weather Service predicted that the storm would bring “catastrophic” and “life-threatening” flooding in the region, and then cross into the southwest U.S.
Joe Biden, the president of the United States, released a press release on Sunday night confirming that federal officials were providing resources to affected states.
Biden’s announcement read: “I am still being briefed about our preparation efforts and the storm’s possible impact, including flooding.” “My Administration is ready to offer additional assistance if requested.” I urge everyone to take this storm very seriously and to listen to local and state officials.
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NWS announced also on X (formerly Twitter) that the Los Angeles area, Long Beach, and Glendale are all under a Flash Flood Warning until 3 a.m. Local Time. Los Angeles Unified school district officials have also announced that Monday’s schools will be closed due to the storm.
David Katz, the Public Information Officer at the LA County Sheriff’s Department, confirmed that late Sunday video, obtained by Fox News Digital via Alexandra Datig, showed the Malibu Search and Rescue Team performing a hoist-rescue of a fishing man who fell over a rocky embankment in the storm.
NBC LA reported that Eisenhower Medical Center, located in Riverside County, had been flooded. San Diego County also received a tornado warning, with power outages reported.
Fox Weather reports that the worst of the flooding is expected to hit Southern California and Southwest by late Sunday. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has declared a state-of-emergency for the Silver State. A storm is expected to impact Clark, Mohave, and Nye Counties.
According to FOX 5 Vegas, Lombardo said: “Hurricane Hilary is a serious threat for our communities. I urge all Nevadans once again to prepare themselves for flooding and remain vigilant. They should also follow the advice of state and local officials.”
The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office has announced an evacuation of parts of Lake Mead National Park. Officials have asked residents of the Temple Bar or Willow Beach area to move higher up.
The storm’s biggest threat, rain, continued to increase in parts of southern California. This included the Los Angeles basin, and the deserts of southeast California. Michael Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, said that the center of the storm will move northward from Baja California into southern California in the next 18-24 hours.
Brennan, a NWS meteorologist, said: “We remain very concerned about the potential of life-threatening flooding and potentially catastrophic impacts.” Brennan noted that the risk of flash floods is particularly high in the deserts located between Los Angeles, California, and Las Vegas Nevada.
NWS San Diego reported on X that “East to northeast winds with gusts over 40 mph are strengthening along and beneath the coastal slopes in the mountains of San Diego County and Fremont Canyon, in the Santa Ana Mountains,” earlier Sunday.
Ensenada, Mexico, and Tijuana, Tijuana, Tijuana, remain directly on the path of the tropical storm. Meteorologists warn that the storm is still dangerous despite its weakened state.
An earlier NWS advisory issued at 2 am from Miami said Hilary was approximately 30 miles south of Punta Eugenia, Mexico and 385 miles away from San Diego, California. The maximum sustained winds remained at 85 mph, while “heavy rains spread northward” over the peninsula.
A person drowned in Santa Rosalia on the eastern coast of the peninsula, Mexico, after a vehicle was washed away by an overflowing river. Edith Aguilar Villavicencio is the mayor of Mulege Township. She said that rescue workers were able to save four more people.
The death was not immediately linked to the hurricane. However, local officials posted videos showing torrents of water flowing through the streets.
Forecasters say the storm is still expected to make history as the first tropical cyclone to hit Southern California for 84 years. It will bring flash floods and mudslides along with high winds, tornadoes that are isolated, and power outages. Authorities issued an evacuation warning for Santa Catalina Island. They urged residents and tourists to leave this tourist destination located 23 miles from the coast.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a declaration of emergency on Saturday in preparation for the storms.
He stated that 7,500 personnel had been activated throughout southern California. This included close to 4,000 California Highway Patrol officers, 2,000 Caltran employees, and mutual assistance across the entire region. Newsom urged residents to take any warnings about flash floods, lightning and tornadoes seriously.
Rafael Carrillo, the head of the Tijuana fire department, spoke of the fears that are in the minds of all residents in this border city with 1.9 million inhabitants, especially those who live on steep slopes. Tijuana closed all beaches on Saturday and installed storm shelters in government offices and sports complexes.
Mexico’s Navy evacuated 850 residents from islands near the Baja coastline, and sent almost 3,000 troops to conduct emergency operations. Police patrolled the closed beaches in La Paz, on the Sea of Cortez coast, to keep swimmers away from the rough surf.
Los Angeles authorities scrambled in order to get homeless people off the streets into shelters. Officials also ordered the closure of all state beaches within San Diego and Orange County.
Residents stocked up on supplies as municipalities across the region ran out of sandbags. To prevent visitors from being stranded in floods, the U.S. National Park Service has closed California’s Joshua Tree National Park as well as Mojave National Preserve.
Major League Baseball has rescheduled 3 Sunday games to be played on Saturday, as part of a split doubleheader. SpaceX has delayed the launch date of its satellite-carrying rocket, from a Californian base located along the central coast, until at least Monday.
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