Tropical Storm Hilary center moves to California during the storm
Tropical Storm Hilary’s worst effects are being felt throughout Southern California and the desert southwest, where there is torrential rain, mudslides, and occasional funnel clouds.
The former Category 4 hurricane made landfall as a tropical storm on Mexico’s southern Baja California peninsula late Sunday morning and has since gradually weakened.
Due to the far-reaching impact, states of emergency were declared in California and Nevada — two of the states where Hilary expected the worst.
Hilary has already claimed at least one life in Mexico after a family of five was swept into the sea while crossing a creek in Baja California Sur state. according to the governor of Baja California Sur.
Where is Tropical Storm Hilary and what is the forecast?
The maximum continuous winds from tropical storm Hilary have dropped to around 80 km/h with stronger gusts. according to the latest recommendation.
A weakening is expected as the core continues to race through Southern California.
More than 21 million people in Southern California are on a tropical storm warning. It includes areas along the coast of Los Angeles to the US-Mexico border, including San Diego.
It also extends inland to places like Victorville, San Bernardino, Palm Springs and Mount Laguna.
Heavy rain is expected from Hilary across the southwest through Monday morning. Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches with isolated 10 inches is expected in parts of Southern California and Nevada.
Dangerous to catastrophic floods are to be expected. Rainfall levels of 1 to 3 inches with local highs of up to 5 inches are expected in parts of Oregon and Idaho through Tuesday morning, causing localized, sometimes significant, flash flooding.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has issued a rare high risk of excessive rainfall in Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley and Las Vegas, Nevada.
This is the first time there has been such a risk for Southern California’s low desert regions east of the mountain ranges.
Significant wind effects remain at risk throughout the US Southwest, particularly in areas with mountainous terrain.
The NHC said stronger wind gusts are expected inland and will continue even as Tropical Storm Hilary turns posttropical.
Persistent winds of 39 mph and a gust of 63 mph have been reported in Round Potrero, California, according to the NHC. A sustained 38 mph wind was recorded in Crestwood, California, along with a 53 mph gust.
The NWS also reported an 84 mph wind gust at Big Black Mountain in San Diego County.
Mudslides and rockfalls occur in California
Rainfall rates of 1 to 1.25 inches per hour caused flooding along several Southern California roads and sudden mudslides and boulders on Sunday.
A mudslide on Freeway 14 caused several lanes to be closed in Palmdale.
Palm Springs, California, declares a state of emergency due to flooding
Flooding along Interstate 10 and several streets around Palm Springs prompted city officials to declare a state of emergency Sunday night.
The city saw about an inch of rainfall, causing some streets to resemble streams and lakes
At least one water rescue took place and officials urged everyone to stay off the streets until the wet weather passes.
Hilary triggers tornado alerts in an area normally free from hurricanes
Multiple funnel clouds were reported over the Golden State, but none had touched the ground as of Sunday night.
Reports of funnel clouds came in from Fresno and east of San Diego.
The Storm Prediction Center warned of an increased tornado risk for southeastern California, western Arizona and southern Nevada due to Hilary.
