By Nouran Salahieh, Gene Norman and Dakin Andone of CNN
Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall in Mexico Sunday over the northern Baja California Peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center, which warned of "catastrophic and life-threatening flooding" as the storm makes its way into Southern California and the southwestern US.
Hilary’s core is just hours from crossing into California, but its effects have been felt throughout Sunday morning, with rain and wind lashing the southern parts of the state and the broader Southwest. Conditions will only intensify throughout the day.
Hilary had maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour as of 11 a.m. local time, the hurricane center said in an update, as the storm barreled north-northwest at a speed of around 25 mph. At that time, it was about 215 miles south-southeast of San Diego.
More than 9 million people, including those in downtown Los Angeles, are under a flash flood warning issued by the National Weather Service. The warning, which will last until 7:45 p.m. local time, was issued as rainfall totals in Southern California’s highest terrain have already surpassed 2 inches.
At least one death is already attributed to the storm. A person died when their vehicle was swept away near Santa Rosalía in Mexico, along the Baja California Peninsula, Mexican officials said in a news release Saturday.
Hilary weakened into a tropical storm earlier Sunday from a Category 1 hurricane - but it will still pack a powerful punch in the Southwest US, with the worst impacts expected to begin Sunday afternoon and last into Monday.
A "potentially historic amount of rainfall" could cause "life-threatening to locally catastrophic" flooding, the hurricane center said. The storm is forecast to dump 3 to 6 inches of rain - or even 10 inches in some areas - and whip up damaging winds that can knock power out for many.
"We're mobilizing all of government as we prepare and respond to this unprecedented storm," said California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who proclaimed a state of emergency Saturday for a large swath of Southern California to support hurricane response and recovery efforts.
Nancy Ward, director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, warned it "could be one of the most devastating storms that we've had hit California in more than a decade."
Storm is 'unprecedented' event, LA mayor says
Parts of California, Nevada and Arizona that are unaccustomed to rain could suddenly receive a year's worth or more. And along the coast, large swells generated by Hilary are likely to create life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Death Valley saw triple its average August rainfall in just a few hours Sunday morning. Nearly a month's worth of rain fell in one hour on Sunday. It normally receives an average of 0.21 inches of rain the entire month August, but the Furnace Creek observation site reported 0.63 inches since Sunday morning.
Roads within Death Valley National Park were expected to eventually become "impassable," the park said on Instagram, sharing photos that showed floodwaters flowing over roads.
The threat triggered California's first ever tropical storm warning extending from the state's southern border to just north of Los Angeles - presenting an "unprecedented weather event" to a city with "deep experience" responding to natural disasters like wildfires and earthquakes, Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference.
"It is critical that Angelenos stay safe and stay home unless otherwise directed by safety officials," Bass said. "Avoid unnecessary travel. If you do not need to be on the road, please don't get in your car. Make sure your emergency kit and essential devices are on hand. And ensure that all of your devices are charged in the event of life-threatening emergency."
Residents of the San Bernardino County communities of Oak Glen, Forest Falls, Mountain Home Village, Angelus Oaks, and Northeast Yucaipa were all ordered to evacuate Saturday.
Visitors and some residents of Catalina Island, part of California's Channel Islands, were "strongly encouraged" to leave the island ahead of the storm in a news release from the City of Avalon.
Meanwhile, helicopters from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office were flying over riverbed areas Saturday afternoon, making announcements in both English and Spanish to warn homeless people about the extreme weather.
On top of the threats of heavy rainfall and swollen surf, Hilary also brings with it the threat of isolated tornadoes Sunday from mid-morning through the evening over parts of the lower Colorado River Valley, Mojave Desert and Imperial Valley regions, according to the hurricane center.
Concern for deserts and recent burn areas
As Hilary approaches, California is particularly focused on preparing residents in areas that typically receive the least rain, or that were most recently scorched by wildfires, authorities said.
"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," said Brian Ferguson, the deputy director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
Lingering burn scars from wildfires can create a steep, slick surface for water and debris to flow off. People who live downhill and downstream from burned areas are very susceptible to flash flooding and debris flows.
"Rainfall that would normally be absorbed will run off extremely quickly after a wildfire, as burned soil can be as water repellant as pavement," the National Weather Service said.
In Orange County, a voluntary evacuation warning was issued for Silverado Canyon and Williams Canyon in the Bond Fire burn area due to possible debris flows along or near the burn scar.
Residents have been offered sandbags to fortify their property in counties across Southern California, where some of the natural buffers against flooding have been burned away.
State and local officials ready to respond
First responders have also pre-positioned to respond quickly and perform water rescues from flooded areas, the release from Newsom's office indicated, with "more than 7,500 boots on the ground" deployed.
Palm Springs Mayor Grace Garner on Sunday urged residents to stay inside, saying on "Face the Nation" on CBS that authorities had preemptively closed down three of the main roads that regularly flood.
"It's drizzling outside and if it stays just this very light drizzle, we'll definitely be okay," Garner said. "But we do know that there's going to be flooding, because like I said even an inch or two of rain in the desert can cause damage."
Bass, Los Angeles' mayor, echoed that during her own appearance on CBS, reiterating residents should stay in. But if they are outside for any reason and see fallen trees or power lines, they should stay away and call the city.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has fully staffed crews ready to work on restoring power and clearing downed trees or power lines, the utility said in a statement. The city's reservoirs have "sufficient capacity" to handle any increased runoff due to potential flooding, it added.
Electricity utility Southern California Edison – which serves more than 15 million people in the region – said Thursday Hilary is on track to impact much of its service area. The company said it is preparing to respond to outages but urged residents to gather supplies including flashlights, external battery chargers and ice chests.
The approaching storm has already led to disruptions across California: All state beaches in Orange and San Diego counties were closed; the US Navy is temporarily relocating San Diego-based ships and submarines; Los Angeles County closed parks, beaches, playgrounds, restrooms and trails; Major League Baseball overhauled its weekend schedule; and Sunday’s My Morning Jacket and Fleet Foxes concert at the Hollywood Bowl has been postponed.
