Motorists abandon their vehicles on a flooded road during heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary in Palm Springs, Calif., on Sunday. The center of Tropical Storm Hilary made its way to Southern California, bringing strong winds and the potential for unprecedented rainfall to an area that hasn’t seen tropical storm conditions in over eight decades. As of Sunday evening, the storm was located 25 miles south-southwest of Palm Springs, moving at a speed of 23 mph with sustained winds of 50 mph. The National Weather Service predicts that the storm will pass through Southern California and move north to Nevada by Monday morning. LAist reported that certain roadways in Southern California have already flooded, leading to water rescues. As of Sunday afternoon, parts of Los Angeles County had experienced over 4 inches of rainfall in just two days. In preparation for this rare tropical storm, Clark County in Nevada, where Las Vegas is situated, declared a state of emergency on Sunday. In the meantime, parts of Southern California have already been under a state of emergency since Saturday night. Forecasters anticipate that Southern California and southern Nevada will receive an average of 3 to 6 inches of rainfall, with the possibility of up to 10 inches. Some areas may accumulate more rain in a few hours than they typically would in an entire year. Furthermore, strong and gusty winds are expected, especially in elevated terrain. Hilary, which was downgraded from a hurricane on Sunday, made landfall in northern Baja California in Mexico earlier in the day. Sadly, one person has been reported dead due to drowning in the Mexican town of Santa Rosalia during the storm. While Mexico’s hurricane watch has been lifted, flash floods are still a concern along the Baja California coast. The heaviest rainfall is expected overnight and will persist in Southern California until early Monday morning. Eastern San Diego, northern Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Death Valley are at the highest risk for flash flooding, according to Michael Brennan, the director of the National Hurricane Center. Brennan emphasized the danger of nighttime flooding conditions, as they are more difficult to detect, especially on major highways like I-10, I-8, and I-40, which are predicted to be affected by heavy rainfall. Brennan also stated that a significant portion of Nevada, as well as parts of southwestern Utah and western Arizona, are at risk of flooding. Additionally, tornadoes are a possibility in certain areas, including the Mojave Desert, Lower Colorado River Valley, and southeastern California. This is the first time in recorded history that Southern California has been under a tropical storm warning, as the region is more accustomed to dealing with wildfires and earthquakes. Meteorologists note that the last time Southern California experienced a storm of this magnitude was in 1939. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for several counties on Saturday night, including Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Tulare, Orange, and Ventura. Evacuation orders have already been issued for some communities, such as parts of San Bernardino County. The Flood Operations Center, Cal Fire, and the California National Guard are prepared with water vehicles and rescue teams in case of flooding. State officials are urging residents to stay updated with flood and evacuation alerts from their counties and to make necessary preparations for their families and pets in case they need to evacuate.
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