On Sunday, tropical storm Hilary made landfall on the Mexican coast, far from densely populated regions, some 150 miles south of Ensenada.
It then went into Tijuana, a mudslide-prone city, posing a hazard to makeshift houses on the hillsides near the US border. Later that day, the storm made its way to San Diego before heading north into desert regions.
The storm’s downpour triggered flooding in Mexico’s parched Baja California Peninsula, then traveled over Southern California, flooding highways, bringing down trees, and raising fears of flash floods reaching as far north as Idaho.
Hilary is the first tropical storm to impact Southern California in 84 years, according to forecasters. It brought with it floods, mudslides, high winds, power outages, and the possibility of localized tornadoes.
I'm quite ashamed to say that I made it on to the local news today.. But I am also very thankful for the gentlemen who came in to save me from my sinking car.. I have learned a very valuable lesson today, Hurricane Hilary in Southern California is no joke. #HurricaneHilary #Flood pic.twitter.com/shlTX8xmni
— Mary Ann Beth (@MaryAnnBeth1) August 20, 2023
The storm has already dumped almost 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) of rain on some mountain areas and has promised to dump more rain on inland desert regions than the average yearly amount.
Meanwhile, the tropical storm enters into the Southern California, due to which the authorities issued the flood warning.