The stirring winds of Hurricane Hilary, spinning at speeds of up to 100mph, accentuate its ferocity as a Category 2 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. This south-eastern tempest is expected to collide with earth later on Saturday.
The inclement weather has already unleashed torrents of rain upon Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and southwestern regions of the US. With its swirling eye only about 285 miles southeast of Baja California’s Punta Eugenia, the aftermath of this meteorological phenomenon is expected to be substantial.
The scarred landscape bears silent testimony to the carnage left in the wake of these hurricane winds. Rainfall across southern areas of California and Nevada could escalate to 10 inches, warns the NHC, and is signalling towards the likelihood of “dangerous to catastrophic flooding”.
An intricate analysis reveals a changing eyewall and rainbands, with the hurricane declining in strength while inundating these regions in heavy rainfall. Climate change, as per experts, might have a significant hand in intensifying this abnormal weather pattern.
Mexico’s readiness to face the tempest is evident. With parts of the country under a tropical storm watch, its government has mobilized an army of 18,000 soldiers to aid in rescue operations.
While tropical storms and hurricanes are not a stranger to Mexico, their visit to California, however, is historically rare. Southern California last made acquaintance with a tropical storm in 1939, when it made landfall in Long Beach.
Despite its weakening, Hurricane Hilary, bound for Mexico’s Pacific coast, remains an ominous threat with potential “life-threatening” flooding, a grave warning issued by US meteorologists.
US President Joe Biden has affirmed the readiness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), pre-positioning supplies and personnel in the region.
The city of San Diego remains under the scanner, with the National Weather Service issuing a flash flood warning. Flash flooding remained a concern for over 26 million residents in the Southwestern US. Recent events, such as the devastating wildfire in Hawaii in August 2023, underscore the intensified threats of natural catastrophes.
While Hurricane Hilary continues to lose strength rapidly, as per John Cangialosi, a senior hurricane specialist at NHC, the potential hazard cannot be overlooked.
From Arizona to other cities across the region, local authorities are extending helping hands by providing residents with sandbags to fortify their properties against the imminent floodwaters.
The unfolding scenario led the National Park Service to shutter Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve in California to ensure visitors’ safety. The anticipation of Hilary’s impact has also influenced Major League Baseball to reschedule its southern California games, and SpaceX to postpone a rocket launch from its base on the California coast.
Though Hilary will likely weaken into a Tropical Storm by the time it encounters lands, it remains the first tropical storm set to hit US soil in over eight decades. Navigating safely through this storm will require collective efforts, precautions, and adhering to guidance from state and local authorities.
