Tropical Storm Hilary unleashed its fury on Riverside County on Sunday, causing widespread flooding and prompting emergency declarations in Palm Springs and Palm Desert. Roads were closed, including a section of Interstate 10, while videos showed cars submerged in floodwater.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries associated with the storm. Hilary brought heavy rains to the county before making landfall in Southern California, intensifying the rainfall and worsening storm conditions. The National Weather Service issued warnings of potentially dangerous flooding and even the slight possibility of tornadoes.
After weakening from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, Hilary made landfall near San Diego, bringing the potential for “historic amounts of rainfall” and life-threatening flooding. A flood watch remains in effect until early Monday morning, and residents have been advised to seek shelter. An evacuation order was issued for the Mias zone, and a voluntary evacuation warning was issued for several other areas.
The tropical storm warning remains in effect across Southern California, including Riverside County. The storm is expected to clear the area by Monday morning, although showers may continue throughout the day. Meanwhile, College of the Desert sites in Palm Desert will be closed due to flooding.
In response to the storm, California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a State of Emergency for Southern California, mobilizing and coordinating resources. FEMA has also positioned supplies and deployed teams to assist with the response and recovery efforts.
For those in need, care and reception centers have been set up at Desert Mirage High School in Thermal and the Banning Community Services Center in Banning. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services is available to assist residents with their animals.
This tropical storm event is a rare occurrence for Southern California, with the last one happening in 1939.
