Hilary Takes Aim at Southern California, Prompting Fears of Flooding

Los Angeles County is under a tropical storm watch for the first time in history, as Hurricane Hilary bears down on the region off the coast of Baja California.

In advance of the storm, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a State of Emergency for much of Southern California to support the Hilary response and recovery efforts as the state continues mobilizing and coordinating resources ahead of the storm’s forecasted impacts.

Heavy rainfall and high winds were expected to last through Monday. At the governor’s direction, there were currently more than 7,500 boots on the ground deployed to help local communities protect Californians from the impacts of Hilary.

The governor also signed an emergency proclamation in San Diego while visiting with California National Guard troops. He met with first responders and local officials, including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. He was also in touch with federal officials, including the White House.

The Emergency Medical Services Authority has assets on standby, including California Medical Assistance Teams to augment local capacity, aid in evacuations and support medical needs in communities impacted by flooding. The EMSA was ready to assist with Ambulance Strike Teams as necessary to support local communities. The Flood Operations Center is activated and has prepositioned flood-fight materials should they be needed.

The California National Guard has strategically prepositioned more than 350 guardsmen and two dozen high-water vehicles. CAL FIRE has prepositioned nine Swift Water Rescue teams and Urban Search and Rescue teams along with 290 strategically prepositioned engines. Cal OES, through the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System, has deployed a total of more than 700 local government firefighters and support staff, as well as 15 Swift Water Rescue teams, two Urban Search and Rescue companies and three Regional Urban Search and Rescue task forces.

Hilary was at Category 2 strength Saturday afternoon and was expected to further weaken to a tropical storm by the time it reaches the Southland, but forecasters are still warning of heavy rain, wind and a high risk of flooding in parts of northern Los Angeles County.

The watch, which indicates that “tropical storm-force winds are possible somewhere within this area within the next 48 hours,” is the first ever issued in Southern California, according to the National Weather Service. A tropical storm has not made landfall in California since 1939.

The watch covers the entirety of Los Angeles County

The National Weather Service noted that the hurricane will weaken as it moves north, but will still pack a punch, with heavy rain likely to prompt flash flooding in some mountain and foothill areas, along with powerful winds Sunday into Monday.

Forecasters warned that the storm could have major impacts, including:

• flooding that might prompt evacuation orders;
• power outages;
• heavy rain that could turn small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos and ditches into “dangerous rivers,” leading to potentially destructive runoff in mountain valleys that could raise the risk of rock slides, mudslides and debris flows; and
• flooding of streets and parking lots that will make driving conditions dangerous and potentially prompt road and bridge closures.

A flash flood watch was issued for 10 a.m. Sunday until 10 a.m. Monday. 

Wind gusts are generally expected to reach 45 to 50 mph at times in the northern parts of Los Angeles County. In Pasadena winds are expected to top out at about 30 mph.

NWS forecasts anticipate the bulk of the moisture arriving in the area between Sunday and Monday, bringing humid conditions with “widespread shower activity.”

With the amount of moisture in the storm system, there is a potential for a “tremendous amount of precipitation,” forecasters said, adding that “locally heavy rainfall seems to be a distinct possibility.”

About 2 to 4 inches of rain is expected over most areas, with localized amounts reaching as high as 6 inches

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department urged residents to “hold off on any hiking activities in our local mountains until the storm has passed,” as mountain trails could become flooded.

Pasadena will open an emergency shelter at 9 a.m. Sunday at Villa Parke Community Center, 363 E Villa St.

Officials at LAX, Hollywood/Burbank Airport, Long Beach Airport and Orange County’s John Wayne Airport advised travelers to check with their airlines for possible flight delays or cancellations.

Los Angeles County officials urged residents to sign up for emergency alerts in advance of the storm at ready.lacounty.gov and to follow social media feeds at @ReadyLACounty.

Conditions are expected to improve by Tuesday and beyond, but “enough moisture will remain to possibly continue afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms across the interior portion of the area, especially the mountains and desert,” according to the NWS.