Hurricane Hilary moves very near to Mexico’s Baja coast packing deadly rainfall

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Hurricane Hilary approached Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, approaching landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with the potential for devastating rainfall. The storm’s heavy rain poses a severe and life-threatening flooding risk across a wide area of the southwestern United States.

The National Weather Center in Miami reported that by 5 a.m., Hurricane Hilary was situated “very near” the Baja coast, south of Ensenada, and approximately 285 miles (460 kilometers) away from San Diego, California. While its sustained wind speed diminished to 80 mph (130 kph), the hurricane continued to bring substantial rainfall as it moved northward over the peninsula.

Meteorologists cautioned that despite its weakening, the storm remained hazardous.

Tragically, one individual lost their life on Saturday in the Mexican town of Santa Rosalia on the eastern coast of the peninsula. The fatality occurred when a vehicle was swept away by an overflowing stream. Emergency personnel were able to rescue four other people. The fatality’s connection to the hurricane was not immediately confirmed, but local officials shared videos of torrents of water coursing through the town’s streets.

Predictions indicated that Hurricane Hilary was on track to become the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years. This event was expected to bring about flash floods, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, strong winds, and power outages. An evacuation advisory was issued for Santa Catalina Island, advising residents and visitors to leave the island located 23 miles (37 kilometers) off the coast.

Elizabeth Adams, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service San Diego office, noted that Southern California’s mountains and deserts could experience rainfall of up to 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) per hour, leading to widespread and life-threatening flash floods.

Given the imminent threat, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, urging people to complete their preparations before sundown on Saturday.

The hurricane marked the latest in a series of significant climate-related disasters affecting the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These disasters included wildfires in Hawaii, historic wildfires in Canada, and the heavy rain and flooding brought by Hurricane Hilary itself. The storm’s impact included heavy rain and flooding in Mexico and the southwestern U.S. on Saturday before its anticipated border crossing on Sunday. Forecasts indicated that the storm could deposit up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain, equivalent to a year’s worth of rainfall in some regions of southern California and southern Nevada.

While the hurricane’s status was downgraded, experts emphasized that the threat remained considerable and urged people to remain vigilant.

Meteorologists anticipated that the storm would create “life-threatening” surf and rip currents, with waves reaching up to 40 feet (12 meters) high along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Many sought shelter in storm shelters in Los Cabos, and firefighters conducted rescues in San Jose del Cabo after the resort was hit by heavy rain and wind.

In Tijuana, authorities voiced concerns about potential landslides and collapses of homes on steep hillsides due to the heavy rainfall. Beach closures and storm shelters were put in place as precautionary measures.

Mexico’s navy evacuated individuals from islands off the Baja coast and deployed thousands of troops for emergency operations. In La Paz, police worked to keep swimmers away from the turbulent surf.

The U.S. hurricane center issued tropical storm and potential flood warnings for a wide area of Southern California, including the Pacific coast, interior mountains, deserts, and even parts of eastern Oregon and Idaho. Evacuation warnings were issued for several mountain and foothill communities, and precautions were taken to safeguard against flooding in various areas.

In response to the impending storm, Los Angeles officials worked to relocate homeless individuals to shelters, and state beaches were closed in San Diego and Orange counties.

As the hurricane’s impact drew nearer, residents in the region stocked up on supplies, leading to shortages of sandbags and groceries. National parks closed to prevent visitors from getting stranded due to flooding.

Major League Baseball adjusted its schedule due to the storm, SpaceX delayed a rocket launch, and President Joe Biden was briefed on preparedness plans, urging residents in the storm’s path to follow guidance from local authorities.

Hilary initially intensified into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane before weakening as it approached landfall. It was projected to move north-northwest and make landfall in a sparsely populated area of the Baja peninsula.

Contributors to this report included Dazio from Los Angeles, Borenstein in Washington, Verza and Stevenson in Mexico City, Antczak in Los Angeles, Watson in San Diego, and Garcia in Newport Beach, California.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hurricane Hilary

More about Hurricane Hilary

• National Weather Center
• National Hurricane Center
• California Governor Gavin Newsom
• Major League Baseball
• SpaceX
• President Joe Biden
• Historic wildfires in Canada
• Deadly wildfire in Hawaii
• Blazes in the U.S. and Mexico