California and the broader southwest United States brace for dangerous flood conditions as Hilary, a rare tropical system, tracks northward along the Pacific coast. Heavy rains, strong winds, and risky tides are forecast to affect large portions of the region as the cyclone moves inland from Mexico toward the U.S. border.
Hilary’s maximum winds have eased from 130 miles per hour to about 110 mph (177 kilometers per hour), gradually weakening as the storm shifts onto land. It remains a category 2 hurricane on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale. Forecasts from the National Hurricane Center indicate the storm could bring a substantial weather impact from Baja California in Mexico into southern California and neighboring states this weekend. While winds will fall at landfall, the system is expected to unleash heavy rainfall across a wide area. [Attribution: National Hurricane Center]
Authorities warn that Hilary could become one of the wettest tropical cyclones on record for California, heightening the risk of widespread flooding. Officials in California urge residents to prepare for rapidly changing conditions and possible evacuations in vulnerable zones. The state government’s communications emphasize readiness for potential power outages, road closures, and disruptions to essential services. [Attribution: National Weather Service]
The hurricane center has projected that the center of Hilary will traverse Baja California, Mexico and move toward the southwestern United States by Monday. The impacts are likely to include flash floods, mudslides in mountainous terrain, and coastal surges along exposed shorelines. [Attribution: National Hurricane Center]
Hilary’s heavy rainfall is anticipated to approach levels that could challenge state and local infrastructure. Forecasters note that precipitation amounts could rival the region’s typical annual totals in some zones, underscoring the threat to transportation networks and utilities. Flooding has historically been a leading cause of weather-related harm in the United States during tropical storms and hurricanes, and preparedness remains essential. [Attribution: American Meteorological Society]
postponed games
Rail and travel agencies are adjusting schedules. Amtrak has announced cancellations and delays across routes between San Diego and Los Angeles as crews prepare for possible service interruptions. Similarly, major league sports organizers have rescheduled events, with Sunday’s San Diego and Los Angeles games moved to Saturday to accommodate the evolving weather situation. [Attribution: Associated Press]
The rainfall forecast calls for substantial totals in some areas, with many regions expected to receive up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) of rain. In higher elevations, isolated pockets could exceed 10 inches, posing hazards of urban flooding and landslides. [Attribution: National Weather Service]
Showers that began in northern Mexico are projected to extend into southern California and the broader southwestern United States over the weekend. Flood advisories extend north to Idaho and east into Utah, with particularly elevated risk in Southern California and Nevada. The major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas face significant flash flood potential as the system nears. [Attribution: NOAA]
Weather professionals emphasize that heavy rain could begin in California before the system fully arrives, with peak rainfall possible on Sunday night as the center of Hilary approaches Southern California. Forecasters from the national weather forecast center explain that the storm’s center will draw closer to the region, intensifying rainfall and related hazards. [Attribution: National Weather Service]
Experts caution that the storm’s effects will be felt across the Baja California peninsula and adjacent areas. Climatologists note that Ensenada and Tijuana are particularly vulnerable to rainfall surges and associated flooding as Hilary moves inland, bringing significant moisture and destabilizing weather conditions across the border region. [Attribution: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]