Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall in Southern California on Sunday and on Monday it weakened to a post-tropical cyclone. Rain is expected throughout the day in California's southernmost counties.
According to the power tracking website PowerOutage.us, about 48,000 customers lost power Monday across California. It is one of the results of the first tropical storm to hit California since 1997. Along with this, significant flooding is expected in urban areas, which may pose a danger to people.
🇺🇸 | EN VIDEO: La ciudad de Palm Springs en California, está completamente inundada por el huracán Hillary. pic.twitter.com/0aAdosedtL
— UHN Plus (@UHN_Plus) August 21, 2023
In Palm Springs alone, city officials reported that at least 911 roadways have been disrupted by flooding and severe damage caused by Hilary. "There's no way in or out of Palm Springs and that's the case for most of the Coachella Valley. We are all trapped. Our main highway, I-10, is also closed in both directions," Palm Springs Mayor Grace Ganer told CNN.
Many people are trapped in their homes in Cathedral City, Riverside County because of these same roadblocks, according to the city's Fire Department chief. Floods have carried in debris, sand and rocks, which make driving much more dangerous under these circumstances. Schools in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas have been closed, but Mayor Karen Bass said Monday that workers could return to their jobs Tuesday. The city reported no deaths or serious injuries as a result of the storm.
#VIDEO | Así se ve el estadio de los Dodgers desde el aire tras el paso de la tormenta Hilary.pic.twitter.com/6UN6LdCfBW
— VOZ (@VozMediaUSA) August 21, 2023
Hilary in Mexico
Mexico was also hit hard by Hilary. About 380,000 customers' electricity was affected according to Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission. The towns of Bahía Tortuga, Loreto, Punta Abreojos, Guerrero Negro, San Ignacio, Vizcaíno, Santa Rosalía, and Mulegé were the most affected. In the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur and Sonora, the government deployed around 3,000 members of the Armed Forces to help.
Heavy rainfall from Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is expected across South TX on Tue/Wed. The heavy rainfall may produce areas of flash flooding. Across portions of Coahilla and Nuevo Leon in Mexico, flash flooding with possible landslides in mountainous terrain is expected. pic.twitter.com/XoFRcscjEv
— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 21, 2023
Hilary is expected to move eastward and may slightly affect the state of Nevada. On Monday, the National Weather Service issued warnings for the other side of the country about new storm fronts that are forming in the Atlantic. As a result, heavy rains are expected in southern Texas, as well as in the Mexican states of Nuevo León and Coahuila.
