Rain from Tropical Storm Hilary lashes California and Mexico, swamping roads and trapping cars

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Tropical Storm Hilary swept across Mexico’s dry Baja California Peninsula with lethal floods on Sunday before shifting to Southern California, where it overwhelmed roads and toppled trees. Fears escalated that flash floods could impact regions as distant as Idaho.

Hilary, the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, unleashed floods, mudslides, strong winds, power failures, and even isolated tornadoes. In some mountainous communities, the storm poured more than 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) of rain, threatening to dump more rain in the desert areas than they usually get in a year.

After making landfall 150 miles (250 kilometers) south of Ensenada, Mexico, in a sparsely populated region, Hilary moved through mudslide-prone Tijuana, endangering the makeshift homes clinging to the hillsides near the U.S. border. By Sunday night, the storm had traversed San Diego and was advancing into inland desert regions.

Warnings of significant flood risks were issued in California as the storm approached populous mountain areas along the coast northeast of Los Angeles.

Messages like “PLEASE… STAY OFF THE ROADS” were posted on platforms such as X, once known as Twitter, to caution residents about the severe weather.

The impacts of the storm included mud and boulders blocking highways, water rushing over roads, and tree branches falling from San Diego to Los Angeles. In places like Palm Desert, numerous vehicles were trapped in floodwaters. Emergency crews even had to pump out floodwater from Eisenhower Medical Center’s emergency room in Rancho Mirage.

Forecasts suggested that Hilary could bring once-in-a-century rains to other Western states, becoming the rainiest known tropical cyclone to soak Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. The storm was projected to linger into central Nevada early Monday before dissipating.

Schools were affected, with Los Angeles Unified School District closing all campuses on Monday and San Diego schools delaying the first day from Monday to Tuesday. Officials emphasized that safety was paramount, and the uncertainty around building conditions and accessibility made it nearly impossible to commence schooling.

An unexpected 5.1 magnitude earthquake near Ojai, northwest of Los Angeles, added to the chaos, although no substantial damage or injuries were reported.

Governments and agencies across the affected regions took action, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom declaring a state of emergency, FEMA positioning teams and resources, and National Guard troops activated in Nevada.

President Joe Biden urged precaution and assured federal assistance, while local residents and officials prepared with sandbags and other measures.

Simultaneously, other weather systems were developing, including Tropical Storm Emily in the Atlantic Ocean and Tropical Storm Franklin in the eastern Caribbean.

The event brought to mind a similar tropical storm in September 1939, which devastated California and resulted in nearly 100 deaths.

Hilary’s assault is just the latest in a series of significant climate-related calamities affecting the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, from a deadly wildfire in Hawaii to Canada’s worst fire season on record. The storm’s effects extended beyond the immediate region, prompting the closing of beaches in Mexican cities and the deployment of the Mexican army to clear debris in affected areas.

Meanwhile, residents from all walks of life, from local officials to surfers, braced for the storm’s impact, some looking for opportunity amidst the chaos, while others took vital steps to shield their homes and loved ones from potential floodwaters.

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More about fokus keyword Tropical Storm Hilary

• National Hurricane Center
• U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Information
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Los Angeles Unified School District
• California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
• National Weather Service in Los Angeles