Hurricane Hilary to make landfall in Southern California today, Flooding and storm winds expected

California: Hurricane Hilary is on course to make landfall in Southern California on Sunday today, bringing with it the potential for floods, powerful winds, and heavy rainfall. As a precaution, residents are evacuating, and local authorities are closing parks and beaches, while emergency responders prepare for possible water rescues.

Currently, Hilary is categorised as a Level 1 storm, with maximum winds reaching nearly 90 miles per hour. It’s rapidly heading toward San Diego at a speed of 18 mph, as reported by the National Hurricane Center. As of 8 p.m. local time on Saturday, the hurricane was approximately 550 miles away from San Diego.

Although Hilary is expected to weaken to a tropical storm before reaching the United States, it’s anticipated to bring a significant impact to the Southwest. The hurricane center warns of “catastrophic and life-threatening” flooding. Predictions suggest that the storm will dump between 3 to 6 inches of rain, with some areas possibly experiencing up to 10 inches. In addition, the hurricane may generate damaging winds that could result in power outages.

The most severe conditions are expected to occur on Sunday and into Monday. In response to this impending threat, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Saturday for a substantial portion of Southern California. This declaration is aimed at providing support for hurricane response and recovery efforts across the region, as confirmed by the governor’s office.