Residents in the Southwest are preparing for heavy rains and potential catastrophic flooding as Hurricane Hilary approaches the region as a rare tropical storm. Hilary, currently a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 mph, is expected to pass close to Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula before weakening into a tropical storm as it moves into Southern California. The threat has led to California issuing its first-ever tropical storm warning, covering the state’s southern border to just north of Los Angeles. The Southwest is forecasted to experience heavy rainfall, with the most intense conditions expected on Sunday and Monday.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the deluges could bring more than a year’s worth of rain to parts of California, Nevada, and Arizona. Southern California and Nevada could see 3 to 6 inches of rain, with some areas receiving up to 10 inches. Other areas are forecasted to receive 1 to 3 inches of rain. While Hilary’s core will be powerful, the NHC warns that strong winds and rain will begin ahead of its arrival. Preparations for flooding impacts should be completed as soon as possible, as heavy rain is expected to increase on Saturday.
In anticipation of the storm, officials in the region have started preparing for dangerous road conditions, downed power infrastructure, and flooding. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo announced the deployment of 100 state National Guard troops to southern Nevada, which may experience significant flooding. President Joe Biden revealed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has positioned personnel and supplies in Southern California and other parts of the region in case of a response.
If Hilary makes landfall in California as a tropical storm, it would be the first such storm to do so in the state in almost 84 years. Parts of Southern California face a high risk of excessive rainfall, which is an exceptionally rare Level 4 threat. Research from the Weather Prediction Center shows that high risks of this level were issued on less than 4% of days per year from 2010 to 2020, but were responsible for 83% of flood-related damage and 39% of flood-related deaths.
Given the significant threat, California has prepared water rescue teams, National Guard personnel, and flood fighting equipment in advance of Hilary’s arrival. Highway maintenance crews will be available around the clock to ensure roadway safety. Southern California Edison, the electricity utility serving over 15 million people in the region, is preparing to respond to outages and has encouraged residents to gather essential supplies.
Officials are also taking measures to protect the homeless community, which is particularly vulnerable to flooding dangers. Los Angeles and San Diego have been offering outreach and temporary shelter. The LA County Sheriff’s Department is mapping out at-risk encampments and making aerial announcements about the storm. San Diego has been cleaning storm drains, clearing streets, and readying equipment.
The storm threat has also prompted changes in the Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer schedules in the region. Sunday games hosted by the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres have been rescheduled as split doubleheaders on Saturday. LA Galaxy and LAFC’s soccer matches on Sunday have also been rescheduled to later dates.
As the Southwest prepares for the potentially catastrophic impact of Hurricane Hilary, residents and officials are taking proactive measures to ensure their safety and minimize damage.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-19 06:52:00