Southern California prepares for ‘unprecedented’ tropical storm as Hurricane Hilary hits Mexico
Residents of Orange County’s Silverado and Modjeska canyons have seen it all.
Fires, floods, mudslides: Anything nature can throw at Southern California, people who live here have experienced it. Given this area’s topography, however, all those weather patterns get amplified, making them far more dangerous and deadly than what most folks can expect in the region’s coastal plains and valleys.
As a Modjeska Canyon resident for decades, Joanne Hubble has lived through many of those disasters herself. She’s become something of an emergency operation chief for the area — her regular email updates provide numerous neighbors and others with vital information they need to stay safe during major weather events.
Just this week, she brought emergency and local elected officials to come prep her neighbors for trouble in the canyons.
Even for Hubble, Sunday and Monday’s tropical storm will be unusual.
“We’re definitely used to Santa Ana winds around 40 to 60 miles per hour,” she said after just finishing up another email update to canyon area residents.
“This is over and above. This is new for us. I don’t know, it’s pretty darn scary if you ask me.”
On Friday, Aug. 18, Hurricane Hilary was gathering strength over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico, expected to hit Baja California between Saturday and Sunday.
Forecasters expect the storm to reach San Diego County by Sunday night. By then, its path may have taken it over land. Or the storm will have continued passing over the Pacific. Either way, meteorologists said, the power of the storm should lessen a bit, transforming it from a hurricane to a tropical storm.
That will still mean intense, historic rain for the Southern California region. Most areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties will see anywhere between two to four inches of rain. In the San Gabriel Valley, rain amounts could reach as high as seven inches.
The mountainous areas of the Cleveland National Forest surrounding Silverado and Modjeska canyons alone could see between five to six inches of rain.
Winds across all areas are expected to reach between 20 to 40 miles per hour, with wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour.
Within those bands of rain and wind, meteorologists of the National Weather Service said, residents could see small tornados form.
“These tend to be short-lived,” they said in a statement about their forecast, “but can still cause damage.”
Adam Roser, an NWS meteorlogist, said this storm would likely be historic for Southern California.
“It’s kind of an unprecedented event,” he said. “Everybody should definitely be concerned.”
He said residents should begin preparing by bringing in outside items that could topple over or be thrown about in the winds.
“Anything outside your residence, anything, bring it inside and tie it up,” he said. “Winds are going to be very gusty, especially Monday afternoon into Monday night.”
This story is developing. Please check back for more.
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