California hit by ‘catastrophic’ flooding

California and the Southwest are girding for dangerous flooding as the former Hurricane Hilary brings heavy rain and treacherous tides while canceling hundreds of flights.

Hilary came ashore in California late Sunday as its top winds eased to 40 miles (65 kilometers) per hour, down from 110 miles per hour earlier, making it a tropical storm.

Hurricane Hilary tracking across the US West Coast

The National Hurricane Center predicts it will move across parts of Southern California and Southern Nevada on Monday, bringing “life-threatening” and “catastrophic” flooding to a large area.

As Southern Californians brace for Hurricane Hilary, @Cal_OES is coordinating with state and local partners to ensure residents have access to vital resources including sandbags.

To learn about sandbag safety tips, visit: https://t.co/vjnefL1ph6 pic.twitter.com/HtPnIe2P59

— California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (@Cal_OES) August 20, 2023

Across California the rain will continue through Sunday before ending Monday, said Alyson Hoegg, a meteorologist with commercial forecaster AccuWeather. “Flooding is a major concern with this,” she said.

Drone footage shows the flooded roadways in #CathedralCity.#californiahurricane #Hilary #HurricaneHilary #HurricaneHillary #Hurricanhilary #BajaCaliforniaSur #hillary #California #Hurricane

pic.twitter.com/uixmlxHZSb

— Insane Real videos (@insanerealvideo) August 21, 2023

Hilary, a rare storm to hit the US West, will likely bring a year’s worth of rain across the region, causing floods, mudslides and power outages and disrupting land and air transportation.

In the last 10 years, flooding from rainfall has caused the most deaths from hurricanes and tropical storms in the US.

Homes flooded in Cathedral City, #California#californiahurricane #flooding pic.twitter.com/zKHVfy2QZ1

— RRN (@RRNmedia) August 21, 2023

“Tornadoes, lightning strikes, I’ve got Cal Fire worried about wildfires because of the winds,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said at a press conference, referring to the state’s fire protection department. “These are certainly interesting times.

We’re here in San Diego, where @CalGuard and state and local personnel are mobilizing to protect communities during Tropical Storm Hilary.

Southern California: Stay safe and stay vigilant.

Sign up for emergency alerts at https://t.co/4HmgZqei0N. pic.twitter.com/HabWz6zGtP

— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) August 20, 2023

Games rescheduled, flights cancelled

Amtrak has canceled some services between San Diego and Los Angeles, according to the passenger rail carrier’s website. Major League Baseball moved forward Sunday’s games in San Diego and Los Angeles to Saturday.

Across the US, 1,816 flights were canceled for Sunday with another 552 scratched for Monday, the majority out of California and Nevada airports, according to FlightAware, an airline tracking company.

A widespread area will likely get as much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain with some isolated areas receiving 10 inches or more, especially in the mountains.

Flooding rains that started across northern Mexico spread into Southern California and the US Southwest on Saturday. In the US, flood watches reach northward to Idaho and as far east as Utah.

There’s a 40 per cent chance flash flooding may occur across Southern California and Nevada, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas.

Hilary’s path across the West will help strengthen a high-pressure area across the central US that is forecast to bring a punishing heat wave to at least 50 million people from Minnesota to Texas next week.

High temperature will push to 100F degrees (38C) or more across a large area including St. Louis, Little Rock, Dallas and Houston.