Hurricane Hilary has rapidly intensified off Mexico’s west coast and has been updated to a Category 4 storm.
On Thursday, Hilary was upgraded from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane until it reached Category 4 on Friday morning and sustained winds near 145 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
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Southern California and parts of the Southwest are bracing for heavy rain and flooding, with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles warning of “dangerous rip currents” and south swells ranging from 4 to 10 feet.
Heavy rain associated with Hurricane Hilary is expected to spread into the SW and western U.S. this weekend/early next week. Rainfall totals of 3-6″ (isolated amounts up to 10″) are forecast across portions of southern CA and southern NV, which would lead to significant impacts. pic.twitter.com/Iq2uVDvMTq
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) August 18, 2023
Hilary is expected to weaken to a tropical storm by the time it approaches the Golden State over the weekend and early next week. The storm will cause extreme weather from San Diego to Los Angeles. The National Weather Service said the flooding is expected to peak this weekend into Monday.
Over the next few days, some remote areas in the mountains could see more than 10 inches of rain, and deserts could see heavy rainfall as well.
“Hilary could strengthen a little more during the next 12 hours or so,” the National Hurricane Center said. “However, once hurricanes reach major hurricane strength, they are prone to fluctuations in intensity, particularly if an eyewall replacement begins. In addition, oceanic heat content will be dropping significantly in 24-36 hours.”
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Hilary could be the first tropical storm to hit California in 84 years, with the last tropical cyclone hitting the West Coast in 1939. The severe storm made landfall near Long Beach, California, causing 93 deaths across the southern part of the state and millions of dollars in damages.
Today’s High Risk issuance in our Excessive Rainfall Outlook is the first one on record (to at least 2010) east of the mountains and in the low deserts of southern California. Explore the ERO in more detail using our interactive web page here: https://t.co/cfgBoWziaI pic.twitter.com/cCgepmmCaQ
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) August 18, 2023
“If it happens, that would be a historic first for CA,” UCLA’s environmental institute meteorologist Daniel Swain said, noting how “tropical wind watches may be required for the U.S.”
