Hurricane Hilary Threatens Mexico and California with ‘Catastrophic Floods’ – Reuters

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Category 4 Hurricane Hilary is rapidly approaching Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, according to a U.S. government agency, which has issued its first tropical storm watch for California and warned of potentially life-threatening and catastrophic floods.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicts that the intense storm will reach the popular resort city of Cabo San Lucas late Friday, although it is expected to weaken before arriving at the U.S. West Coast this weekend. Nonetheless, dangerous rainfall levels are still anticipated.

The agency’s latest advisory highlights that “life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flooding are likely over much of Baja California and Southern California this weekend and into early next week.”

Baja California comprises two states, with the northernmost one canceling non-essential public activities on Friday, including school classes through Monday. Authorities in Tijuana, Mexico’s second-largest city, have advised residents in high-risk areas to seek temporary shelters.

Meanwhile, in the southern state of Baja California, local authorities postponed a baseball match and announced that ports would be closed through late Friday. The state’s governor urged residents to take precautions and stock up on essential supplies without resorting to panic buying.

NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome has warned of flood risks stretching from San Diego to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, with particularly elevated risks around the Palm Springs area. He suggested that those with weekend plans should consider changing them. In response to the impending storm, Major League Baseball has rescheduled several Sunday games in Southern California to Saturday.

While cold waters off California’s coast typically weaken incoming storms, Rhome noted that “this system is expected to maintain its strength due to its fast forward motion.” Hilary was reported to be moving west-northwest at nearly 12 miles per hour and packing maximum sustained winds of approximately 130 mph.

Rhome also indicated that California and southern Nevada could face severe flooding from up to 10 inches of rainfall. Additionally, there are concerns of storm surges leading to coastal flooding and destructive waves along the Baja California peninsula.

This situation marks a historic first, as the National Weather Service has issued a high risk warning for California’s southeastern desert regions. Following an unprecedented summer heatwave, heavy rains are anticipated for California, Nevada, and neighboring Arizona.

In July, Phoenix, Arizona, experienced a month-long period with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit. In California’s Death Valley, temperatures soared to 128 degrees Fahrenheit in mid-July, among the highest ever recorded on Earth in the past 90 years, while heat alerts affected tens of millions of Americans.