Hurricane Hilary has now been classified as a powerful Category 4 hurricane and is expected to make landfall in Mexico’s Baja California on Sunday.
The storm, the first tropical storm watch issued for California, is expected to weaken to a tropical storm before crossing into the state Sunday night, ABC News reported.
The watch is in effect for portions of Southern California including San Diego, Palm Springs, Riverside, and the city of Los Angeles. Areas may receive heavy rain, potentially historic flash flooding, mudslides, and gusty winds Sunday through Monday morning.
The worst of the rain is expected to hit Southern California on Sunday from Palm Springs to the Mexican border, with desert areas possibly seeing more than one year’s worth of rain in the course of one or two days.
A flash flood watch has been issued for Joshua Tree National Park, according to the National Park Service
“We’re starting a phased closure process, and will be fully closed within the next 36 hours,” Donovan Smith, a NPS park ranger, told ABC News Friday.
The park’s management will be assessing the park and conditions as the storm progresses, he said.
“We’ve closed the park for weather conditions in the past, but this level of storm is quite new for this area,” Smith said.
The greater Southwest area, which also includes Las Vegas, could also see flash flooding.
Most areas can expect to see 2 to 6 inches of rain, while others could see up to 10 inches of rain.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna told media outlets on Friday that the county’s various first responders and emergency management teams are already preparing for the storm.
He noted that water rescue personnel and rescue aircraft are on alert and ready for immediate response and responders have already made outreach to the homeless population in the county, ABC News reported.
“I don’t think any of us…[ever] thought [we’d] be standing here talking about a hurricane or a tropical storms,” Luna said.
President Joe Biden said Friday that his “team is closely monitoring” the storm.
“FEMA has prepositioned personnel and supplies in the region and they’re ready,” Biden said. “I urge everyone, everyone in the path of this storm to take precautions and listen to the guidance from state and local officials.”
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