Southern California braces for Hurricane Hilary

A powerful Category 4 hurricane is moving through the Pacific Ocean toward Mexico and the United States, triggering a tropical storm warning for Southern California, including downtown Los Angles.
As of 8 p.m. on August 18 in Los Angeles, the National Hurricane Centre reported that Hurricane “Hilary” was located less than 300 miles off the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula.

As of 8 p.m. on August 18 in Los Angeles, the National Hurricane Centre reported that Hurricane “Hilary” was located less than 300 miles off the southernmost tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. 

According to weather experts, the storm could start this weekend and create “life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flooding” in Baja and the country’s southwest.
The alert signifies that tropical storm conditions are expected within the next 36 hours. From the California-Mexico border to the Santa Monica region, which includes Catalina Island, it is feasible inside the coverage area.
The Hurricane Centre said that Hurricane Hilary had sustained winds of close to 130 mph.

When a tropical storm maintains winds of 39 mph, it receives a name. A storm becomes a hurricane when winds hit 74 mph, and a major hurricane when they reach 111 mph.
Due to the approaching storm, a number of activities in the Los Angeles region this weekend, including a Major League Soccer match and numerous Major League Baseball games, have been postponed.

Hilary will deliver up to six inches of rain, with isolated amounts up to ten inches, to certain areas of the Baja California Peninsula, with the potential for flash floods.

Portions of Southern California and Southern Nevada will record similar rainfall totals through Tuesday morning, which could lead to “dangerous and locally catastrophic flooding,” forecasters said.

For a large part of Southern California, including the counties of Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura, a flood watch has been issued. A few inches of rain are forecast for other regions in the West.
Strong winds were predicted to occur before the storm’s centre.
Prior to Hilary’s arrival, Southern Californians scrambled to pack sandbags and fuel generators while emergency personnel set up evacuation centres. Some others voiced a particular worry about the effects on the desert and mountainous areas.

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