Hurricane Hilary Approaches Mexico’s Baja California, Threatening Catastrophic Flooding
As Hurricane Hilary advances towards Mexico’s Baja California, the U.S. National Hurricane Center warns of potential “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” for both the peninsula and the southwestern United States. The hurricane is expected to make landfall on Saturday as a tropical storm, marking the first occurrence of a tropical storm hitting Southern California in 84 years. As a result, officials in Los Angeles and other areas are taking swift action to protect vulnerable populations.
Janice Hahn, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, expresses her surprise at having to address a hurricane or tropical storm in the region. Homeless individuals are being encouraged to seek shelter, temporary shelters are being set up, and evacuation plans are being made. Furthermore, the U.S. National Hurricane Center issues a tropical storm watch for Southern California, including the Pacific coast, interior mountains, and deserts. The possibility of evacuating California’s Catalina Island is also being discussed.
Hilary, currently a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph), is projected to hit the Baja peninsula on Saturday night and then move northward towards Southern California. Concerns arise about potential dangerous flooding in Tijuana, where many homes cling precariously to steep hillsides. In preparation, authorities in Tijuana are designating high-risk zones and setting up four shelters for residents.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is also taking precautionary measures. The National Park Service closes Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve to prevent visitors from being stranded due to flooding. Additionally, sandbags are being distributed in various cities to protect properties from potential floodwaters. Major League Baseball alters its schedule, rescheduling three Sunday games in Southern California to Saturday. Other efforts include Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies urging homeless individuals living in riverbeds to seek shelter, and SpaceX delaying the launch of a satellite-carrying rocket from California’s central coast due to Pacific conditions.
President Joe Biden assures the public that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has already positioned staff and supplies in the region. He stresses the importance of heeding the guidance of state and local officials and taking precautions in the face of the storm.
As the region braces for Hilary’s impact, sand berms, like those in Huntington Beach, are being reinforced to protect low-lying coastal communities. Residents are anxiously preparing for heavy rain, potential flooding, and landslides. Some schools in Cabo San Lucas are being converted into temporary shelters, and police in La Paz are patrolling closed beaches to prevent swimming in dangerous conditions. Five municipalities have closed schools as a safety measure.
The National Weather Service predicts widespread rain to begin as early as Saturday, with the storm potentially reaching California as a tropical storm on Sunday. Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated amounts of up to 10 inches, is expected in certain areas of California and Nevada. Such rainfall levels are unprecedented and could lead to once-in-a-century rains, potentially breaking Nevada’s all-time rainfall record.
In summary, the approaching Hurricane Hilary poses a significant threat of catastrophic flooding to Mexico’s Baja California and the southwestern United States. Authorities and residents are taking extensive measures to ensure the safety of vulnerable populations and protect property from the anticipated heavy rain and potential flooding.
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