Current:Home > InvestWeakened Hilary still posing serious threat to Southern California and Southwest-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Weakened Hilary still posing serious threat to Southern California and Southwest
lotradecoin permissions View Date:2024-12-25 16:23:25
Southern California and the Southwest were girding for more impact from onetime Hurricane Hilary Monday morning. More flash flooding and mud and rock slides were possible, forecasters said. The National Hurricane Center warned that some flooding could be "life-threatening and locally catastrophic."
Hilary strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane before weakening to a tropical storm prior to making landfall Sunday, then was downgraded to a subtropical cyclone early Monday morning. The system was expected to dissipate later in the day but still produce heavy rainfall, significant flooding and gusty winds across the western U.S.
Flooding was already impacting many areas and numerous rock and mud slides were reported.
Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years.
It dumped more than half the average annual rain on some desert and mountain areas, including Palm Springs, which saw nearly 3 inches of rain by Sunday evening. Tens of thousands of people across Southern California had no power due to the storm and Palm Springs lost 911 service Sunday night, CBS News Los Angeles reported. The station said Hilary's outskirts were still lingering over greater Los Angeles and battering some regions with heavy rain early Monday morning.
- Latest storm coverage from CBS Los Angeles
Where is flooding expected?
The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center said flood watches were in effect for Southern California, northwest Arizona, much of Nevada, southwest Utah, eastern Oregon, western and central Idaho and southeast Washington. A flood watch means flooding is possible in those areas.
"Hilary is expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches across portions of southeast California and southern Nevada through Monday, with isolated storm total amounts up to 12 inches," the center said. "Continued flash and urban flooding is expected."
What's more, 1 to 5 inches of rain was expected across portions of Oregon and Idaho through Tuesday morning "resulting in localized, some significant, flash flooding," the center added.
In Nevada, officials remain concerned about dangerous flooding across the western Mojave Desert, which is at high risk for flash flooding, "an exceedingly rare occurrence," the weather service's office in Las Vegas said Sunday on social media.
Southern California was experiencing heavy rain in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, CBS News Los Angeles reported.
Mount Wilson in Angeles National Forest recorded over 8.5 inches of rain as of 7 a.m. PDT, the top amount reported by the National Weather Service's Los Angeles office. Beverly Hills recorded 4.8 inches, and downtown LA recorded nearly 3 inches.
The National Weather Service said Ventura County was experiencing life-threatening flooding and San Bernardino, Riverside and nearby mountains were at high risk of flash floods. San Bernardino and Riverside Counties issued evacuation orders and Orange County issued evacuation warnings.
Among many dramatic scenes playing out as Hilary hit:
How is Southern California dealing with Hilary?
As of 8 a.m. PDT Monday, Hilary was about 115 miles west-northwest of Elko, Nevada, and racing north-northeast at 24 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph.
Although no longer a hurricane, the system was still bringing heavy rainfall to the area.
It was the first time that the National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for Southern California, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency ahead of its arrival.
President Biden on Sunday said he has asked FEMA to deploy personnel and supplies to California. Mr. Biden also said the Coast Guard has pre-positioned aircraft to allow for rapid response and rescue efforts.
"My Administration also deployed federal personnel to Nevada to ensure the state has additional support, and we will continue to coordinate with California, Nevada, and Arizona on any resources they might need," Mr. Biden said.
On Sunday evening, Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the country, announced all schools, campuses and after-school programs would be closed Monday due to the storm.
"This was not an easy decision," the district said on social media. "Los Angeles Unified acknowledges the unique, unprecedented nature of Tropical Storm Hilary, which has garnered city, county, and state declarations of emergency."
Pasadena Unified School District followed suit later Sunday night.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation on Saturday ordered a temporary closure of all San Diego and Orange County state beaches and several state parks.
Disneyland announced Saturday that parks would be closing early Sunday, with Disney California Adventure Park closing at 9 p.m., Disneyland Park closing at 10 p.m. and the Downtown Disney District will close at 11 p.m.
The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels all moved their scheduled Sunday home games to Saturday double-headers in anticipation of the storm.
When will Hilary hit Las Vegas?
Nevada will see heavy rain into Monday morning with likely flooding in Las Vegas and "significant flooding" in Death Valley National Park, the Weather Channel reported.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon due to the "imminent impact" of Tropical Storm Hilary across the state. "Significant damage to public and private property are likely, including multiple transportation routes," the declaration read.
That came days after he announced that 100 National Guard troops had been activated ahead of the tropical storm.
-Alex Sundby contributed reporting.
- In:
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- Hurricane Hilary
- Las Vegas
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Wildfires are growing under climate change, and their smoke threatens farmworkers, study says
- Books similar to 'Verity' by Colleen Hoover: Read these twisty romantic thrillers next
- Anthony Volpe knows these New York Yankees can do 'special things'
- Baseball team’s charter bus catches fire in Iowa; no one is hurt
- How 'Millionaire' host Jimmy Kimmel helped Team Barinholtz win stunning top prize
- The Most Instagram-Worthy Food & Cocktails in Las Vegas
- Simone Biles' stunning Olympics gymnastics routines can be hard to watch. Here's why.
- Who is Yusuf Dikec, Turkish pistol shooter whose hitman-like photo went viral?
- Justice Department defends Boeing plea deal against criticism by 737 Max crash victims’ families
- 2026 Honda Passport first look: Two-row Pilot SUV no more?
Ranking
- Alabama Supreme Court authorizes third nitrogen gas execution
- Olympian Madeline Musselman Details Husband’s Support Amid His Stage 4 Lung Cancer Diagnosis
- An assassin, a Putin foe’s death, secret talks: How a sweeping US-Russia prisoner swap came together
- Here's what the average spousal Social Security check could look like in 2025
- Wisconsin’s Evers urges federal judge not to make changes at youth prison in wake of counselor death
- Surviving the inferno: How the Maui fire reshaped one family's story
- Ground cinnamon products added to FDA health alert, now 16 with elevated levels of lead
- Horoscopes Today, August 2, 2024
Recommendation
-
US Army intelligence analyst pleads guilty to selling military secrets to China
-
Harvard appoints Alan Garber as president through 2026-27 academic year
-
Judge overturns $4.7 billion jury award to NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers
-
Florida attorney pleads guilty to trying to detonate explosives near Chinese embassy in Washington
-
Clint Eastwood's Son Scott Shares How Family Is Doing After Death of Christina Sandera
-
Maren Morris says 'nothing really scares me anymore' after public feuds, divorce
-
Is population decline a problem to solve or just one to rethink? | The Excerpt
-
Families react to 9/11 plea deals that finally arrive after 23 years