On Friday, a U.S. government agency reported that Category 4 Hurricane Hilary was barreling towards Mexico’s Baja California peninsula as it issued its first-ever tropical storm watch for California and warned of potentially fatal and catastrophic flooding.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicts that the strong storm will pass over Mexico’s well-known vacation city of Cabo San Lucas by late on Friday. It should then diminish before making landfall on the U.S. West Coast this weekend, but it will still bring severe rains.
“Life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flooding are likely over much of Baja California and Southern California this weekend and early next week,” the Miami-based agency said in its latest advisory.
Spanning two states, Mexico’s Baja California peninsula is divided into a northernmost region where non-essential public activities were suspended from Friday to Monday, including school classes. In Mexico’s second-largest city, Tijuana, officials advised residents in high-risk areas to seek refuge in temporary shelters.
Meanwhile, in the southern state of the peninsula, local authorities postponed a baseball match and announced the closure of ports until late Friday. The state’s governor emphasized the importance of preparedness, urging residents to secure water and essential supplies at home, while discouraging panic buying.
Jamie Rhome, Deputy Director of the NHC, issued warnings about the potential for flooding from San Diego to Los Angeles and even extending to Las Vegas, with notably elevated risks centered around the Palm Springs area.
[1/8]As Hurricane Hilary, a Category 4 storm, approached Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, waves crashed on the shore in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Monserrat Zavala Acquire Licensing Rights
Spanning two states, Mexico’s Baja California peninsula is divided into a northernmost region where non-essential public activities were suspended from Friday to Monday, including school classes. In Mexico’s second-largest city, Tijuana, officials advised residents in high-risk areas to seek refuge in temporary shelters.
Meanwhile, in the southern state of the peninsula, local authorities postponed a baseball match and announced the closure of ports until late Friday. The state’s governor emphasized the importance of preparedness, urging residents to secure water and essential supplies at home, while discouraging panic buying.
Jamie Rhome, Deputy Director of the NHC, issued warnings about the potential for flooding from San Diego to Los Angeles and even extending to Las Vegas, with notably elevated risks centered around the Palm Springs area.
[1/8]As Hurricane Hilary, a Category 4 storm, approached Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, waves crashed on the shore in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Monserrat Zavala Acquire Licensing Rights