Hurricane Hilary surged toward Mexico’s Baja California peninsula on Sunday morning, with the California Governor Gavin Newsom declaring a state of emergency.
According to the US National Weather Service, the hurricane was downgraded to Category 1 but still has the potential to bring “catastrophic and life-threatening” flooding to the area.
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Bill Deger, A meteorologist with commercial-forecaster AccuWeather Inc, said: “Rain is obviously the biggest story”.
Experts said Hilary has the potential to deliver a year’s worth of rainfall within a single day to specific regions, and it might even set new records in certain areas.
The organisation also warns that excessive rainfall may trigger mudslides, flash floods, down trees, and power.
While wind damage was anticipated, the primary concern centred on the potential for widespread flooding, which could lead to substantial economic losses ranging from $1 billion to $2 billion.
Authorities have issued an evacuation advisory for Santa Catalina Island in the US, urging residents and travellers to leave the tourist destination 23 miles off the coast.
Janice Hahn, chairperson of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, urged local shops and businesses to close and let employees work from home on Monday.
“At this point, if you haven’t moved from where you are, stay where you are,” she said in an interview on 97.1KNX News.
The hurricane is the latest climate disaster to wreak havoc across the US, Canada and Mexico, with Hawaii’s island of Maui still reeling from the blaze last week.
The fire was the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century, killing more than 100 people and destroying the historic town of Lahaina.
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