California braces for flash flooding as first tropical storm in 84 years hits

Credit: AP

A major tropical storm has hit Southern California, with concerns mounting that flash floods could strike in places as far north as Idaho.

Forecasters said Storm Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, bringing the potential for flash floods, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, high winds and power outages.

Hilary made landfall along the Mexican coast in a sparsely populated area on Sunday evening.

At least 9 million people were under flash-flood warnings as heavy rain fell across normally sunny Southern California ahead of the brunt of the storm. Desert areas were especially susceptible along with hillsides with wildfire burn scars, forecasters warned.

Mud spilled onto highways, water overwhelmed drainage systems and tree branches fell in places from San Diego to Los Angeles.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, and officials had urged people to finish their preparations before sundown Saturday.

The forecast prompted authorities to issue an evacuation advisory for Santa Catalina Island, urging people to leave the tourist destination 23 miles off the coast.

In preparation for the approaching Hurricane Hilary, residents wait in line to fill sandbags at Wildwood Park Credit: AP

Residents have evacuated, parks, beaches and Disney Land have closed and first responders are bracing for water rescues.

The White House said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the latest plans ahead of the hurricane's turn to the US.

“I urge everyone, everyone in the path of this storm, to take precautions and listen to the guidance of state and local officials,” he said.

Where is Hurricane Hilary and how bad is it?

At its strongest Hilary was an exceedingly dangerous Category 4 major hurricane, with its top sustained winds peaking at 145 mph on Friday.

But it is now a Category 1 storm, with maximum winds of 85 miles per hour.

It is heading north-northwest at a speed of 20 mph, according to the National Hurricane Centre.

Madeline Noble, 9, sits in the back of her dad's pickup truck as she assists with sandbags at Wildwood Park in San Bernardino, California. Credit: AP

It was about 450 miles south from San Diego as of 11pm local time on Saturday.

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.

The worst of it is expected Sunday into Monday.

Has Hilary hit anywhere else?

Hilary brought heavy rain and flooding to Mexico and the southwestern US on Saturday, ahead of the storm's expected Sunday border crossing. 

Medano Beach in Mexico's Cabo San Lucas is pictured here as Hurricane Hilary nears the coast on August 18. Credit: CNN

Mexico’s navy evacuated 850 people from islands off the Baja coast, and deployed almost 3,000 troops for emergency operations.

In La Paz, the picturesque capital of Baja California Sur state on the Sea of Cortez, police patrolled closed beaches to keep swimmers out of the whipped-up surf.

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