Tropical Storm Hilary Floods California Desert Roads and Threatens Oregon and Idaho

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Tropical Storm Hilary, the first of its kind to impact Southern California in 84 years, led to widespread flooding, uprooted trees, and necessitated the bulldozer-assisted rescue of over a dozen senior citizens trapped in a care home by mud on Monday. The storm is progressing northwards, instigating flood watches and warnings in six states.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Hilary has lost much of its power, with only remnants heading over the Rocky Mountains. However, warnings have been issued for “persistent life-threatening and locally catastrophic flooding” in parts of the southwestern U.S., following record-breaking rainfall. Forecasters have identified the most significant risk of flooding on Monday in southeastern Oregon and the west-central mountains of Idaho. Thunderstorms and localized torrential rains are expected on Tuesday.

Hilary initially made landfall on Mexico’s dry Baja California Peninsula as a hurricane, resulting in one fatality and extensive flooding before being downgraded to a tropical storm. It was one of several potentially devastating natural occurrences affecting California on Sunday, alongside tornado warnings, wildfires, and a moderate earthquake north of Los Angeles. No deaths, serious injuries, or extreme damages have been reported within the state, but officials have stressed ongoing risks, particularly in mountainous regions prone to mudslides.

In Cathedral City, near Palm Springs, a dramatic rescue was carried out, as 14 residents of a swamped care home were rescued using a bulldozer. A total of 46 rescues were executed by the city between late Sunday and Monday afternoon from mud and standing water as high as 5 feet (1.5 meters).

Elsewhere in San Bernardino County, first responders continue to assist around 30 stranded people due to the overflow of the Santa Ana River near Seven Oaks. Authorities had to use helicopters for rescue due to boulders in the flow that made boating too dangerous.

In the San Bernardino Mountains, crews worked to remove mud that entrapped approximately 800 residents. In Oak Glen, community members assisted in digging out a home to free a couple surrounded by about 4 feet (1.2 meters) of mud.

The storm’s havoc also included the fall of a 100-feet (30 meters) tall Eucalyptus tree onto a condominium in Palm Desert, narrowly missing an 11-year-old boy.

Hilary is part of a series of major weather events impacting the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Its rapid growth and unprecedented path led to extraordinary rainfall, even in typically arid regions like Death Valley National Park, which had to close indefinitely.

Rainfall records were shattered in areas like San Diego, where Sunday became the wettest day on record. Scientists are still exploring why storms like Hilary expand while others remain small.

Although the wet weather might reduce the risk of wildfires in certain parts of Southern California and Sierra Nevada for a few weeks, experts do not anticipate widespread rain in the most vulnerable areas.

In the city of Desert Hot Springs, concerns arose about accessibility due to impassable flooded roads. In Los Angeles, the city remained resilient with minimal impacts. The last time a tropical storm entered California was in September 1939, resulting in nearly 100 deaths.

As Hilary continued to move east into Nevada, reports of flooding and power outages emerged. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Franklin approached Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and another storm is anticipated to reach the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday.

Reporters from various locations, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Cathedral City, Las Vegas, Washington, Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, and Phoenix, contributed to this comprehensive report.

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• National Hurricane Center for updates and warnings related to Tropical Storm Hilary.
• Weather records in San Diego for detailed information on the record-breaking rainfall.
• Cathedral City Rescue Operations for more details on the rescue efforts in Cathedral City.
• Death Valley National Park Closure Information for information regarding park closure and weather-related damage.
• National Weather Service Forecast for predictions on Hilary’s path and potential thunderstorms in Oregon and Idaho.