Rare Tropical Storm Watch Issued for California as Hurricane Hilary Approaches

Concerns are growing as Hurricane Hilary approaches the southwestern US and parts of California, with the potential to unleash a significant amount of flooding rainfall. This rare move has triggered the first ever tropical storm watch for California. Hilary has the potential to dump more than a year’s worth of rain in parts of California, Nevada, and Arizona, posing a high risk for excessive rainfall. This Level 4 threat is the first to ever be issued for this part of Southern California.

As of Friday morning, Hilary was a powerful Category 4 hurricane located about 400 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It had sustained winds of 145 mph with stronger gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm underwent rapid intensification from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane in just 24 hours. It is forecasted to remain a Category 4 as it approaches Mexico’s Baja California peninsula through Saturday.

There is a possibility for Hilary to become the first Category 5 hurricane this season briefly before it enters colder water and weakens. Officials have issued hurricane watches, tropical storm watches, and tropical storm warnings for Baja California and northwest Mexico as Hilary’s center approaches the region.

The exact track of the storm remains uncertain, and small deviations could change the forecast for the most intense rain and wind in the US. While Hilary is more likely to make landfall in Mexico and cross into California, if it makes landfall in California as a tropical storm, it would be the first such storm to do so in nearly 84 years.

The first ever tropical storm watch was issued for parts of Southern California on Friday morning, extending from the California/Mexico border to the Orange County/Los Angeles County line. The threat of significant wind impacts continues to increase for northern portions of the Baja California Peninsula and the Southwestern United States, especially in mountainous areas, according to the hurricane center.

Although Hilary is expected to weaken before reaching Southern California and parts of the Southwest, it will still enhance heavy rainfall and increase the risk of flooding. The heaviest rainfall is expected to impact the Southwest on Sunday and Monday, with potential downpours causing concern.

The high risks for excessive rainfall are significant, as they are responsible for the majority of flood-related damage and deaths. Southern parts of California and Nevada could receive 3 to 5 inches of rain, with isolated amounts of up to 10 inches. Central parts of these states, as well as western Arizona and southwest Utah, are expected to receive 1 to 3 inches of rain.

The driest parts of California, including Death Valley, could potentially receive multiple years’ worth of precipitation in a single day. Las Vegas, which typically averages 3.75 inches of rain per year, could receive 2 to 4 inches of rain. Prolonged rain may oversaturate the ground and overwhelm waterways, worsening the flood threat.

Flood watches have been issued across southern California, from San Diego to Los Angeles, as residents prepare for potential deluges. The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has also warned of the potential for dangerously high surf, rip currents, and coastal flooding.

In addition to the concerns in the East Pacific, the Atlantic is also gearing up for an increase in tropical activity. Four separate areas of concern stretch across the entire basin, from west of the Cabo Verde Islands to the Gulf of Mexico. The United States is particularly concerned about an area in the warm Gulf of Mexico, where atmospheric conditions could support tropical development next week.

Overall, the approaching Hurricane Hilary poses a significant threat of flooding rainfall to the southwestern US and parts of California. Residents are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.

What areas in the southwestern US could potentially see an astonishing amount of rain that surpasses the average rainfall for an entire year?

Reaching the southwestern US, there is still concern over the potential for significant flooding and rainfall. This has prompted the first tropical storm watch ever issued for California, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. Parts of California, Nevada, and Arizona could see an astonishing amount of rain, with the potential to surpass the average rainfall for an entire year. This poses a high risk for excessive rainfall and flooding.

Currently, Hurricane Hilary is a powerful Category 4 hurricane, with sustained winds of 145 mph and even stronger gusts. It underwent rapid intensification, going from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane within 24 hours. While it is expected to maintain its Category 4 strength as it approaches Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, there is a chance it could briefly reach Category 5 status before weakening.

Officials have issued hurricane watches, tropical storm watches, and tropical storm warnings for Baja California and northwest Mexico as Hilary approaches. The exact path of the storm is still uncertain, and even small deviations could change the forecast for the most intense rain and wind in the US. While it is more likely to make landfall in Mexico and cross into California, if it does make landfall in California as a tropical storm, it would be the first such storm to do so in nearly 84 years.

As of Friday morning, a tropical storm watch has been issued for parts of Southern California, spanning from the California/Mexico border to the Orange County/Los Angeles County line. The hurricane center warns that there is an increasing threat of significant wind impacts, particularly in mountainous areas of northern portions of the Baja California Peninsula and the Southwestern United States.

While Hilary is expected to weaken before reaching the southwestern US, it is crucial for residents in the affected regions to stay informed and prepared for potential flooding, excessive rainfall, and strong winds.