In a stark reminder of the ever-increasing impacts of climate change, a historic tropical storm warning has been issued for California. It is set to make landfall in Baja California. As Hurricane Hilary intensifies, it is a threat to the Southwest with a possibility of catastrophic and life-threatening flooding. 

This is poised to be the first hurricane to make landfall in California since 1939. As the Southwest braces for the storm's onslaught, experts are sounding the alarm about the urgent need to adapt to the changing climate.

Hurricane Hilary, once a menacing Category 4 storm, has now been downgraded to Category 3. 

According to the latest alerts from the National Hurricane Center, it remains a major hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour.

What sets this storm apart is its rapid pace, moving at 16 mph, it is scraping the U.S. coast. Southern California and other parts of the Southwest are anticipated to bear the brunt of Hilary's fury. And flooding rains are projected to commence as early as Saturday.

The Hurricane Center warns of torrential rains that could unleash over a year's worth of precipitation in certain regions, causing potential devastation.

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Hurricane Hilary 

The storm has prompted California to issue its first-ever tropical storm warning for the area spanning the state's southern border to just north of Los Angeles.

 The anticipation of heavy rainfall, destructive winds, and treacherous flooding has led to a flurry of emergency preparations across the region.

As the storm's path evolves, communities are taking proactive measures to mitigate the potential damage, from road closures and power infrastructure reinforcement to evacuation procedures and assistance for vulnerable populations.

Brian Ferguson, deputy director of Cal OES, said that the office is “all hands on deck” for Hurricane Hilary preparation. He said that the office is particularly monitoring desert regions as they prepare for heavy rainfall and potential flooding.

“We’re keeping a very close eye on our desert regions, east of San Diego and Los Angeles. Some parts of these areas may receive double their yearly amount of water in just a single day,” he said. 

“Certainly, we are going to be watching very carefully for flash floods, mudslides and debris flows in that area, looking at the burn scars from fires that have happened in recent years.”

The storm's potential to bring excessive rainfall, a rarity with high risks issued for only a fraction of days each year, underscores the climate challenges the region faces.

Preparing for the storm

It is expected that there will be an impact on the power grid. And Southern California Edison is working on the electricity infrastructure, preparing for outages.

“We hope that the storm does not cause any damage, and more importantly there is no loss of life,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said in a Friday news conference.

 “But we will prepare for a worst-case scenario, not only to assist people here in our county but if we are not impacted or affected, we will become a resource to other neighboring counties as needed.”

San Diego spent the last several days cleaning storm drains, clearing streets, and readying equipment, Mayor Todd Gloria said Friday.

Officials are also focusing on the homeless population, which is particularly vulnerable to flooding dangers. Outreach efforts and temporary shelters are being offered in Los Angeles and San Diego to protect this marginalized group.

Nevada, which also stands in the hurricane's path, has mobilized 100 state National Guard troops to address potential flooding.

 On a federal level, President Joe Biden says that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will respond swiftly to any crisis that arises.

 Southern California's state operation center remains active around the clock, coordinating response efforts and resource allocation to ensure that affected areas receive necessary aid.

The sports world has rescheduled Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer matches. 

As Hurricane Hilary approaches, communities are united in their efforts to safeguard lives and minimize damage.