Tropical Storm Hilary Hits Los Angeles, Unleashing Rare Floods
LOS ANGELES, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Southern California, a region more accustomed to drought, was hit by its first tropical storm in over 80 years as Tropical Storm Hilary unleashed floods across parts of Los Angeles. As officials began to assess the damage, they urged the public to stay safe and take necessary precautions.
The National Weather Service downgraded Hilary from a hurricane to a tropical depression, but not before California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for much of Southern California. Flash flood warnings were in effect until at least 3 a.m. (1000 GMT) on Monday.
Forecasters predicted that mountain and desert areas could receive 5 to 10 inches (12 to 25 cm) of rain, an amount that is typically seen in the deserts over the course of a year.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed concern that people may let down their guard if the initial impact of the storm seemed minimal. She warned that later bands of the storm could swing back and catch those who were unprepared off guard. “We know that it could get much worse,” Bass said during a news briefing on Sunday. “My concern is that people will be a little dismissive and go out when we need people to stay at home, to stay safe.”
Hilary’s center was expected to move quickly across Nevada on Monday, with the storm forecasted to dissipate later in the day, according to the weather service.
Before reaching Los Angeles, the storm passed through Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, causing flash flooding and sweeping away roads. At least one person was reported dead in Mexico due to the storm.
Social media images showed raging floodwaters and debris gushing down eroded streets in affected areas.
Tropical Storm Hilary made history by becoming the first tropical storm ever recorded in San Diego county and the first to hit Los Angeles county since 1939. San Bernardino county, located east of Los Angeles, ordered evacuations in towns situated in the mountains and valleys where torrents of water, mud, rock, and trees were reported.
In Ventura county, northwest of Los Angeles, the National Weather Service issued warnings of life-threatening flooding due to heavy rains. Within two hours, up to 2 inches (5 cm) of rain was dumped in the area.
U.S. President Joe Biden ordered federal agencies to mobilize personnel and supplies to assist the affected region.
Officials highlighted the vulnerability of Los Angeles county’s 75,000 homeless population, as well as hillside canyons and areas recently affected by wildfires.
As a precautionary measure, the two largest school districts in the state, Los Angeles and San Diego, canceled school on Monday.
Residents in the nearby town of Rancho Mirage were stunned by the storm’s impact. Closed roads were flooded with water and debris, and at least one pickup truck was stranded in water that rose nearly to the top of its bed. “It’s quite amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Sean Julian, a 54-year-old resident. “I’m seeing a lot more trees down. And there’s a big tree that just fell over there, and I probably shouldn’t be out here.”
The aftermath of Tropical Storm Hilary serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and staying vigilant during extreme weather events.
Reporting by Reuters staff; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Clarence Fernandez
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
What precautions did Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warn the public to take during the storm
Tropical Storm Hilary Causes Unusual Floods in Los Angeles
On August 21, Southern California was struck by its first tropical storm in more than 80 years as Tropical Storm Hilary unleashed floods across parts of Los Angeles. Despite being downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical depression, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for much of the region. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings until Monday morning, and forecasters anticipated heavy rainfall of 5 to 10 inches in mountain and desert areas, which is a year’s worth of rain in those regions.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed concern that people may underestimate the impact of the storm if it initially seemed minimal. She warned that later bands of the storm could catch unprepared individuals off guard and urged the public to stay at home and stay safe.
Hilary’s center was expected to move quickly across Nevada on Monday, with the storm predicted to dissipate later in the day.
Before reaching Los Angeles, the storm had already caused flash flooding and road damage in Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, resulting in at least one reported fatality.
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Stay safe everyone, I hope the damage can be repaired quickly.
Sophie: Oh no, sending thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by the flooding.
Leo: Wow, didn’t expect a tropical storm in Southern California. Mother Nature can be unpredictable.