As Hurricane Hilary slammed into the southwestern United States from Mexico, heavy rains lashed California on Sunday, causing panic among residents after authorities launched evacuation efforts to save lives amid a life-threatening flood warning.
According to Mexican authorities, at least one person was killed when floodwaters swept roads. Images on social media showed raging torrents gushing down city streets that had become rivers.
Officials advised residents to stay indoors and stock up on emergency supplies. Airport operations in San Diego and Los Angeles were halted, and local sporting events were canceled.
According to the FlightAware website, approximately 250 flights scheduled for Sunday at San Diego International Airport have been canceled, with another 382 scheduled for Monday.
Storm Hilary, which made landfall in the northern part of the Baja California peninsula earlier in the day, has been weakening over the last 48 hours.
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According to Zack Taylor, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS), the storm is still on track to be the wettest ever to hit the US Southwest.
“This is a dangerous storm,” said Taylor, who works for NWS’s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland. “It’s not just the rain totals but the intensity.”
Hurricane Hilary is expected to dump massive amounts of water on many areas of the United States Southwest that are more accustomed to dry conditions.
Palm Springs, California, which typically receives 4.6 inches of rain per year, could receive 6-10 inches from this one storm.
The Death Valley region of California, which receives only about 2.2 inches of rain per year, could receive 3-4 inches from this event.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest advisory: “Hilary was carrying top sustained winds of 60 mph (96 kph) and its center was forecast to barrel over the northern portion of the peninsula and then move across Southern California on Sunday afternoon.”
Storm surges, which occur when the ocean is pushed inland, could cause coastal flooding in parts of Baja California, and the storm was bringing heavy rain, which could cause catastrophic flooding in some areas, according to the forecast.
“Rainfall of 3 to 6 inches [7.6 to 15 cm], with isolated amounts of 10 inches, was expected across the northern Baja California peninsula as well as portions of Southern California and Southern Nevada,” it added.
According to the Miami-based agency, Hilary was about 115 miles (185 kilometres) south-southeast of San Diego, California at 5 p.m. EDT. It was traveling at 23 mph (37 kph) north-northwest.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has urged residents in the country’s second-most populous city to stay at home until the storm passes.
“Avoid unneeded travel. Please do not get in your car if you do not need to be on the road,” she said at a press conference on Sunday.
According to Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley, the city has staffed additional fire engines and several swift-water rescue teams in case of flood rescues.
Urban search and rescue teams have also been deployed throughout the city, as have helicopter teams to assist with air rescues.
Local officials in Arizona issued evacuation orders for parts of Lake Mead National Park due to flooding concerns, with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office urging residents to “evacuate to higher elevations” on Facebook.
As heavy rains lashed San Diego on Sunday, Mayor Todd Gloria declared a local emergency.
“I ask San Diegans to stay home and stay safe,” Gloria said on X, the social media platform.
