PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) – Hurricane Hilary, rapidly intensifying off Mexico’s Pacific coast, has now become a Category 4 hurricane, threatening to unleash heavy downpours over the southwestern United States this weekend. As of midnight Thursday, the storm had sustained winds of approximately 220 km/h (140 mph), and it is expected to continue strengthening through Friday morning, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The hurricane’s vortex was situated about 425 miles (685 kilometers) south of Los Cabos, at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, moving in a west-northwest direction at about 14 mph (22 km/h). However, it is forecasted to gradually turn northward on Saturday. The NHC has issued a hurricane watch and a tropical storm watch for parts of Baja California Sur, indicating that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours and hurricane conditions within 48 hours. A tropical storm watch is also in effect for areas of Baja California.
Hilary’s projected track could lead to a potential landfall in the central part of the Baja California peninsula on Sunday, or it might remain offshore as it heads towards southern California. As the storm approaches or brushes the Baja California peninsula, it could briefly survive as a storm or tropical depression and cross the border into the United States. No tropical storm has made landfall in southern California since September 25, 1939, according to the US National Weather Service.
“Hilary’s rainfall in the southwestern United States is expected to peak this weekend and into Monday,” the NHC stated. “Urban and flash flooding are a possibility with potential for significant impacts.” The areas likely to be affected by heavy rain extend from Bakersfield, California, to Yuma, Arizona, and into parts of southern Nevada.
SpaceX has postponed the launch of a rocket carrying a satellite into orbit from a base on the central coast of California, citing the storm’s potential impact on the rocket booster’s recovery. The launch has been delayed at least until Monday.
The forecast for excessive rain in southern California is expected to last from Sunday through Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles weather bureau. UCLA climatologist Daniel Swain noted on Wednesday that although the chances of Hilary making landfall as a tropical storm in California are slim, heavy rains and flooding are possible.
The Mexican government has indicated that the already weakened storm could impact between the cities of Playas de Rosarito and Ensenada in Baja California on Sunday night.
In preparation for the potential flooding, the city of Yuma set up a self-service station for residents to fill sandbags on Thursday. The station will be stocked with sand and sacks while supplies are available, allowing residents to take up to five sacks per vehicle.
PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - Hurricane Hilary, rapidly intensifying off Mexico's Pacific coast, has now become a Category 4 hurricane, threatening to unleash heavy downpours . . .
