Tracking Hurricane Hilary’s Path: Threat to Southern California
By Gina Martinez
Updated on: August 18, 2023 / 3:37 AM / CBS News
Hurricane Hilary is expected to hit Southern California with heavy rainfall as early as this weekend after it makes its way up Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. Forecasters have predicted that the storm will produce 3 to 6 inches of rainfall, with maximum amounts of 10 inches, across portions of Baja California through Sunday night, with the possibility of flash flooding.
Greg Postel, a hurricane and storm specialist at the Weather Channel, has warned of “damaging wind gusts,” especially at higher elevations, and swells along the coast. The storm, currently a “major” Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, is moving west-northwest at 14 mph. It is expected to turn toward the northwest on Friday morning, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest and north on Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The center of the storm will approach the Baja California peninsula over the weekend, and it is not expected to be a hurricane by the time it reaches California. However, it is set to impact the southwestern U.S. with heavy rainfall starting Friday through early next week, peaking on Sunday and Monday, according to the NHC.
Postel has described the situation as rare and nearly unprecedented in the modern record for a tropical system to move through Southern California. The last time Southern California was hit by a tropical storm was in 1939, before storms were given names. While several storms that had been hurricanes or tropical storms have impacted the state since then, they had weakened to sub-tropical systems by that time.
The projected path of Hurricane Hilary shows that it could make landfall anywhere from the Baja California Peninsula to as far north as Santa Barbara, California. One model suggests that the heaviest rain will hit the Palm Springs area after the storm makes landfall.
David Parkinson, CBS News senior weather and climate producer, has highlighted the potential concerns if the storm track shifts just 40 miles to the west.
What are the potential concerns if Hurricane Hilary’s storm track deviates westward by 40 miles
Tracking Hurricane Hilary’s Path: Potential Threat to Southern California
By Gina Martinez
Updated on: August 18, 2023 / 3:37 AM / CBS News
Hurricane Hilary is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Southern California this weekend as it approaches from Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. Meteorologists anticipate the storm to produce 3 to 6 inches of rainfall, with maximum amounts of 10 inches in some areas of Baja California through Sunday night, which could lead to flash flooding.
Greg Postel, a hurricane and storm specialist at the Weather Channel, has cautioned about “damaging wind gusts,” particularly in higher elevations, as well as increased ocean swells along the coast. Currently classified as a “major” Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, Hilary is moving west-northwest at 14 mph. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicts that it will turn toward the northwest on Friday morning, followed by a north-northwest and northward turn on Saturday.
While Hilary is not expected to maintain hurricane status when it reaches California, it is predicted to bring heavy rainfall to the southwestern U.S., starting Friday and lasting through early next week. Peak rainfall is projected for Sunday and Monday, according to the NHC.
Postel has described the upcoming situation as rare and nearly unprecedented in modern records for a tropical system to traverse Southern California. The last time Southern California experienced a tropical storm was in 1939, before storms were named. Although the state has seen numerous hurricanes and tropical storms since then, they had weakened to sub-tropical systems by the time they reached California.
The projected path of Hurricane Hilary suggests that it may make landfall anywhere from the Baja California Peninsula to Santa Barbara, California. One model indicates that the Palm Springs area could experience the heaviest rain after landfall.
David Parkinson, CBS News senior weather and climate producer, has emphasized potential concerns if the storm track deviates by just 40 miles westward.
I hope everyone stays safe and takes the necessary precautions. Hurricanes can be very unpredictable, so it’s important to stay informed and prepared.