Mexico’s Baja California Prepares for Catastrophic Flooding in the Wake of Hurricane Hilary
Mexico is preparing for a strong storm in the Pacific that might cause extensive flooding in Baja California and the nearby US state of California. According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Hilary is predicted to bring severe gusts, flash floods, and “life-threatening” surf and rip current conditions, according to news agency AFP.
The greatest sustained winds of Hurricane Hilary were over 230 kmph, although on Friday (local time), they gradually decreased. “We need to have food, canned goods, and candles on hand. We are aware of the potential consequences,” a worker in the hotel industry told AFP.
Category 4 hurricanes include Hurricane Hilary. On a scale of one to five, Category Four is the second-strongest according to Saffir-Simpson. The US NHC issued a warning that the storm will bring “potentially catastrophic flooding” and “life-threatening” conditions to southern California and Baja California.
According to AFP, navy soldiers were doing a beach patrol in the popular tourist area of Cabo San Lucas. Sandbags and protective boards were used by the residents to prepare. There were huge waves pounding on the coast.
On Friday, Hilary was in the southernmost point of Baja California, 285 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas. According to the NHC’s projection, the center of Hurricane Hilary will approach the west coast of the Baja California peninsula during the weekend before moving on to southern California by Sunday night.
The Baja California coastline between Punta Abreojos and Cabo San Quintin was covered by the hurricane warning for Hilary. According to the NHC, a storm watch was in place for Catalina Island as well as the area from the California/Mexico border to Point Mugu in Ventura County.
“Hilary is forecast to start weakening by Saturday, but when it hits the west coast of the Baja California peninsula on Saturday night and Sunday, it will still be a hurricane. Before it approaches southern California, Hilary is anticipated to deteriorate to a tropical storm by late Sunday, according to the NHC.
Every year, between May and November, hurricanes affect Mexico’s Pacific and Atlantic shores.
The tourist destination of Acapulco was among the places along Mexico’s southwest Pacific coast that saw rain and heavy surf as a result of Hurricane Hilary.
