Live updates: Millions under tropical storm warning as California braces for heavy rain

Evacuation order for San Bernadino mountains

The San Bernadino County Sheriff has issued an evacuation order for communities in the San Bernadino hills.

Residents of Oak Glen, Forest Falls, Mountain Home Village, Angelus Oaks, and NE Yucaipa have been told to leave their homes ahead of the landing of the incoming storm system.

Catastrophic floods could hit SoCal and Nevada, forecasters say

Up to 10 inches of rainfall could lead to “dangerous to catastrophic” floods in parts of southern California and Nevada, the National Weather Service said in an advisory early Sunday.

Elsewhere around 3 to 6 inches of rainfall was predicted, it added.

‘Hurricane Hunters’ prepare to fly into the eye of storm

The “Hurricane Hunters,” an aircrew team in the 403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserve that flies into tropical cyclones to gather weather data for forecasters and scientists, said they preparing for takeoff early Sunday.

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron — the official name for the Hunters — are operating out of Santa Maria Public Airport in California, the team said on X, formely known as Twitter.

The team first flew out into the storm on Thursday to gather data, according to the 403rd Wing website.

L.A. mayor activates Emergency Operations Center

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned city residents to stay at home as the city prepares to activate its Emergency Operations Center Sunday.

Bass said in a tweet that it would be activated at Level 2 which constitutes a partial activation of the center, which deals with the city’s planning, co-ordination, response and recovery for extreme weather events and natural disasters.

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected across Los Angeles County Sunday, as California prepares to weather the first tropical storm to make landfall in the state for 80 years.

One dead, four rescued in Baja California peninsula

One person drowned Saturday in the Mexican town of Santa Rosalia, on the Baja California peninsula’s eastern coast, when a vehicle was swept away in an overflowing stream.

Rescue workers managed to save four other people, said Edith Aguilar Villavicencio, the mayor of Mulegé township.

It was not immediately clear whether officials considered the fatality related to Hilary, but video posted by local officials showed torrents of water coursing through the town’s streets.

Hilary to bring ‘life-threatening’ flooding to Southwest

Tens of millions will be placed under a tropical storm warning Sunday as Hilary moves towards southern California, bringing heavy rainfall and potentially “life threatening” flash flooding, the National Weather Service said in an advisory Sunday.

Strong winds could down trees and power lines and normally dry Arroyos could see mudslides and debris flows, the advisory said.

Stormy conditions at sea will produce large swells with dangerous surf and strong rip currents, it added.

California state beaches and parks closed ahead of storm

Dennis Romero

California State Parks said today it was shutting down state beaches from the U.S.-Mexico border to Bolsa Chica near the southern boundary of Los Angeles County as a precaution.

Beach closures were scheduled tomorrow and Monday, state parks said in a statement.

Additionally, state parks expected to be in the path of Hilary, including Cuyamaca State Park, Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, were also scheduled to be closed tomorrow and Monday, the department said.

Those inland locations, near what was forecast to be the hardest hit communities — desert areas and inland mountain ranges — were the subject of flooding concerns, state parks said.

Flash flood risk from Tropical Storm Hilary

San Diego County declares state of emergency

Dennis Romero

SAN DIEGO — San Diego County officials tonight proclaimed a state of emergency ahead of the anticipated impacts of Hilary.

The proclamation will allow county government to access necessary resources to respond to emergencies and damage associated with the storm.

It followed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state of emergency declaration earlier today.

Photo: People fill up sandbags in Long Beach