The hurricane is expected to weaken, but heavy rain is still forecast for the area, up to about 254 millimeters of rain.
Hurricane Hilary has strengthened to a category four hurricane along the Pacific coast of Mexico.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Hillary is moving at about 12 miles per hour, with winds gusting up to 140 miles per hour (64 m/s). The hurricane is predicted to strengthen throughout Friday.
The hurricane is expected to reach Baja California, Mexico’s northernmost state, on Sunday. According to forecasts, Hilary would have weakened to a category two or one hurricane by the time it reached Mexico. The Mexican government says a weakened Hilary could make landfall on the Baja California coast between the towns of Playas de Rosarito and Ensenanda on Sunday evening.
US National Hurricane Center evaluate, that Hilary could cause flash flooding in the state of Baja California that could trigger landslides. The Mexican government has issued a hurricane warning for the west coast of the Baja California peninsula and a tropical storm warning for parts of northern Mexican states.
The hurricane is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm by Monday morning when it reaches Southern California in the United States. If the forecast comes true, it will be the state’s first tropical storm in 84 years.
A tropical storm brings with it heavy rains
The tropical storm is estimated to cause “significant and unusual” impacts in Southern California, such as widespread flooding.
In southern California and the southern parts of the state of Nevada, rainfall amounts of about 76 to 152 millimeters and in isolated cases up to about 254 millimeters are predicted. Elsewhere in the western parts of the United States, around 25 to 76 millimeters of rain is expected.
News channel CNN’s according to the states, the predicted precipitation amounts correspond to the annual precipitation of the regions.
The Hurricane Center says heavy rain from Hilary is forecast to affect parts of the southwestern United States through next Wednesday, and is expected to be at its heaviest on Sunday and Monday.
A Flood Warning has been issued for the weekend in Southern California from San Diego to Los Angeles. The US National Weather Service has also issued a warning for high waves, strong currents and coastal flooding.
Source: AP, Reuters