Hurricane Hilary to bring 'catastrophic' flooding as residents brace for impact

20 August 2023 , 09:41

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Long Beach Lifeguards have been filling sandbags for residents ahead of Hurricane Hilary's arrival (Image: AP)

Though Hurricane Hilary has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, residents are still bracing for likely "catastrophic and life-threatening" flooding across parts of California.

Hilary is set to move its way up from Mexico to Southern California on Sunday, August 20, and is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reaches the state. It will be California's first tropical storm in 84 years, bringing potential flash floods, power cuts, high winds and isolated tornadoes.

Much of the southern part of California is under a tropical storm warning, including San Diego, Newport Beach, Santa Monica and Los Angeles. The National Weather Service has warned that Tropical Storm force winds will be in effect from late Sunday morning through to Monday morning.

Hurricane Hilary over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, August 19 (NOAA/ZUMA Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

In an update, the service said the wind speeds are set to peak at 35 to 45mph with gusts up to 60mph. The National Weather Service's San Diego office is warning people to try and "protect" their property and ensure they are in a safe place.

A Flood Watch is also in effect warning people to "urgently consider" protective action and "heed any flood watches and warnings". They said: "Failure to take action will likely result in serious injury or loss of life."

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The weather service said extreme rainfall could prompt evacuation orders, with officials in San Bernadino County ordering evacuations for some mountain and foothill communities.

Beaches up and down the coast of California and Mexico have been shut due to the storm (AFP via Getty Images)

Orange County officials have recommended evacuations in Silverado and Williams canyons. Anticipating serious impact from the storm, California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency.

Officials have closed the famous Joshua Tree and Mjoave national parks, beaches from the Mexico border to Los Angeles are shuttered, thee Major League Baseball games have been cancelled and SpaceX has delayed a rocket launch as a result of the storm. Sandbags have been put down in towns and cities in a bid to protect property and police are working to help homeless people find shelter.

Up to three inches of rain could fall an hour across Southern California's mountains and deserts from late Sunday morning into the afternoon, according to Elizabeth Adams, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service San Diego. As much as 10 inches is expected in California and southern Nevada - equivalent to a year's worth of rain.

Residents have been stocking up on sandbags in an effort to try and protect their properties (AP)

Hurricane Hilary brought heavy rain and flooding to Mexico and the southwestern US on Saturday, August 19, ahead of its expected border crossing on Sunday. Despite the storm being downgraded from a Category 4 hurricane at its peak to a Category 1 and expected to become a tropical storm by the time it hits California, residents are still being warned of the dangers.

"This does not lessen the threat, especially the flood threat," said Jamie Rhome, the US National Hurricane Center's deputy director. "Don't let the weakening trend and intensity lower your guard."

The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the latest preparedness plans ahead of the hurricane’s turn to the U.S. “I urge everyone, everyone in the path of this storm, to take precautions and listen to the guidance of state and local officials,” he said.

Fiona Leishman