Hurricane Hilary neared landfall on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula on Sunday as a still-dangerous Category 1 hurricane, but it was the mass amount of rain carried by the storm that is leaving the southwestern U.S. on guard. The National Weather Center said that as of 5 a.m. Sunday the storm was “very near” the Baja coast south of Ensenada, and 285 miles (460 kilometers) from San Diego, Calif. The maximum sustained wind speed dropped to 80 mph (130 kph) while spreading “heavy rains” northward over the peninsula.
Hilary could be a tropical storm by the time it reaches populated parts of California owed to conditions with coastal waters. But even a downgrade leaves little room for relief, as the storm is expected to pack dangerous rains and could bring extensive flooding, as well as mudslides in mountainous regions. In fact, it’s the first official tropical storm for Southern California in 84 years. While a drought-plagued California can still use more rain to replenish reservoirs, sudden rainfall to this extent can be dangerous. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said a tropical storm watch has been issued for Southern California, the first time such an alert has been given. “Heavy rainfall in association …
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