Approaching Hurricane Hilary Threatens Southern California and Southwest

Hurricane Hilary Strengthens in Pacific Ocean, Threatens Mexico’s Baja Peninsula

Hilary, a hurricane that has rapidly intensified in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico, is on track to pass along Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, posing possible impacts in parts of the West as a weaker system. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have warned that Hilary is expected to rapidly intensify into a Category 4 hurricane with winds of at least 130 mph by the end of the week.

As of Thursday morning, the hurricane was located about 320 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. While Hilary is expected to weaken significantly before reaching Southern California and parts of the Southwest, it could potentially bring significant impacts in the form of heavy rain and flooding to these areas.

Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California at Los Angeles, has stated that “multiple years’ worth of precipitation” could potentially fall in some of California’s driest areas. The uncertain forecast for Hilary means that a wide range of outcomes is still possible, as the hurricane will be moving parallel to the Baja Peninsula. Even small deviations in the track could lead to significant shifts in rainfall amounts and impacts.

The San Diego National Weather Service has warned that this event has the potential to be a very high impact event for portions of Southern California. They also mentioned that there is still a degree of uncertainty in the forecast, and more details will come regarding the exact timing, location, and magnitude of impacts in the coming days.

CNN’s Aya Elamroussi and Mary Gilbert contributed to this report.

How could heavy rain and flooding from Hurricane Hilary impact California’s driest areas

Hold on tight, because Hurricane Hilary is on the move! This powerful storm, which has rapidly intensified in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico, is setting its sights on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. But don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet – Hilary may weaken as it moves along, but it could still pack a punch as it heads towards the West.

According to experts at the National Hurricane Center, Hilary is expected to become a Category 4 hurricane by the end of the week, with winds reaching a whopping 130 mph. Currently, it’s about 320 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico and already has sustained winds of 75 mph.

While Hilary may not hit Southern California and parts of the Southwest with the full force of its fury, it still has the potential to cause trouble. Heavy rain and flooding could be in the forecast, leading to “multiple years’ worth of precipitation” in California’s driest areas, according to climate scientist Daniel Swain.

However, predicting the exact path and impact of this storm is proving to be a challenge. The hurricane is expected to move parallel to the Baja Peninsula, and even a slight change in its trajectory could have significant consequences. So, it’s still unclear how much rain will fall and where it will hit the hardest.

The San Diego National Weather Service has issued a warning, stating that this event could be a major deal for parts of Southern California. They acknowledge that there is some uncertainty in the forecast and that more information will be provided in the coming days about when and where the impacts will be felt.

So, keep an eye on Hurricane Hilary and stay prepared for whatever it may bring. This tempestuous storm is one you won’t want to underestimate.