CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO – Hurricane Hilary, though downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, poses significant danger as it approaches Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. This storm is expected to bring “catastrophic” flooding to the region before moving on to impact the southwestern United States as a tropical storm.
Meteorologists have emphasized that despite its weakened state, Hilary remains a treacherous storm. Tragically, one person has already lost their life due to the storm in the Mexican town of Santa Rosalia, where a vehicle was swept away in an overflowing stream. Rescue workers saved four others, according to Edith Aguilar Villavicencio, the mayor of Mulege township.
The hurricane, though no longer at its peak intensity, still presents a significant threat. It’s anticipated to make history as the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, bringing with it the potential for flash floods, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, high winds, and widespread power outages.
California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, declared a state of emergency, urging residents to complete their preparations before nightfall on Saturday as it would be too late by Sunday.
Hilary is just one of the latest major climate disasters affecting North America, alongside wildfires in Hawaii and Canada’s record-breaking fire season.
The hurricane has already caused heavy rain and flooding in both Mexico and the southwestern U.S., with predictions of up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain in southern California and southern Nevada. Meteorologists have emphasized that this weakening trend should not lower people’s guard, especially concerning the flood threat.
Additionally, the storm is expected to create “life-threatening” surf and rip currents, including waves reaching up to 40 feet (12 meters) high along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Tijuana and other areas have taken precautions, closing beaches and setting up storm shelters, while Mexico’s navy has evacuated people from islands off the Baja coast and deployed thousands of troops for emergency operations.
In the U.S., the National Hurricane Center has issued tropical storm and potential flood warnings for Southern California. Multiple evacuation warnings have been issued in mountain and foothill communities, while authorities in Los Angeles are working to shelter the homeless.
Across the region, residents have rushed to stock up on supplies, leading to depleted grocery store shelves and a shortage of free sandbags.
Major League Baseball rescheduled games, SpaceX postponed a rocket launch, and California’s national parks were closed to visitors to prevent people from becoming stranded during flooding.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the hurricane’s path and has urged residents in its path to take precautions and heed local guidance.
Hilary, once a Category 4 major hurricane, is currently Category 2 with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (161 kph) and is moving north-northwest. It is expected to brush past Punta Eugenia on the Pacific coast before making a nighttime landfall in a sparsely populated area of the Baja California peninsula, approximately 200 miles (330 kilometers) south of Ensenada.