Hurricane Hilary, a category 4 hurricane on the Pacific coast of Mexico, is expected to weaken to a tropical storm and make landfall in Southern California on Sunday. The storm may bring heavy rains.
“Rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated amounts of 10 inches, are expected across portions of southern California and southern Nevada,” National Hurricane Center said in a Friday morning advisory.
The storm is expected to make landfall just north of the US-Mexico border before continuing northeast to Los Angeles and Bakersfield, possibly moving as far inland as Reno.
If the storm does hit Southern California, it will be a rare occurrence. According to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the last tropical storm that made landfall in California was 84 years ago, and the last hurricane was in 1858.
Though there is a low chance that Hilary will hit Southern California as a tropical storm, there will still likely be large amounts of rain and flooding, according to an online briefing by UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain.
As of a Friday 8 AM advisory, a tropical storm watch had been issued for the California/Mexico border to the Los Angeles/Orange County line.
“A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours,” the National Hurricane Center said.
For more recent updates and to track the path of Hilary, visit the National Hurricane Center website.
