In the generally dry southwestern United States, Tropical Storm Hilary brought warnings of possibly life-threatening flooding as it raced in from Mexico and pounded California with heavy rains on Sunday.
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred close to the southern California town of Ojai added to the already tense atmosphere when no immediate reports of damage or casualties were made.
As of Sunday afternoon Hilary’s core was in California packing maximum sustained winds of 60 miles (95 kilometers) per hour, after barreling up Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said of this tropical weather event which was very rare for southern California. The storm was moving at the brisk pace of 23 mph (37 kph).
“Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding likely over Baja California and portions of the southwestern US through Monday,” it warned.
“This is an unprecedented weather event,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned.
Beach closure orders caused a rush of people to stores to buy water and other necessities. There were warnings for flash floods and even tornadoes in some locations.
Hilary had previously reached Category 4, the second-strongest rating on the five-step Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, but when it approached the heavily populated Mexican border city of Tijuana, it was downgraded to a tropical storm.
Despite the deterioration, Deanne Criswell, administrator of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), warned citizens to take the threats seriously.
“Hurricane Hilary is going to be a serious impact and threat to southern California,” she said on CNN.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for much of the state’s southern area.
“Stay safe, California,” he wrote on social media as Hilary approached.
According to Newsom’s office, authorities opened five storm shelters and sent out more than 7,500 people, including several hundred National Guard soldiers and swiftwater rescue teams.
Sandbags were filled in San Diego to prepare for potential floods, and lifeguards issued warnings for people to keep out of the water.
