A tropical storm warning is in effect for parts of Baja California Sur, including Los Cabos, as Hurricane Hilary moves north from along the western coast of Mexico. It is expected to pass the peninsula by Saturday.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), “Hilary has the potential to bring significant impacts to the Baja California peninsula and portions of the southwestern United States this weekend and early next week.” The NHC says heavy rainfall may produce areas of flash flooding and result in landslides. Large wells from Hilary will spread northward along the coast of Baja California over the next several days. Rainfall impacts within the southwest U.S. are expected to peak on Sunday and Monday.
Hilary is currently moving at 14 mph and has maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, currently making it a Category 1 storm. The NHC says that following a rapid intensification, it became a hurricane this morning and could even become “a major hurricane later today.” CNN additionally reports that the storm could reach Category 4 strength with 130 mph winds. That said, it would weaken significantly before it reaches Southern California and other parts of the Southwest.
Should the storm make landfall in California next week, it would become only the fourth tropical storm to hit the area, according to NBC News. No storm has reached the area as a hurricane. Rainfall can also be expected in southern Nevada, western Arizona and southwest Utah.
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