6m ago / 1:50 PM UTC
California State parks temporarily closing all state beaches in Orange and San Diego Counties
All state beaches in Orange and San Diego counties will be closed on Sunday and Monday, August 20-21, according to California State parks.
Inland state parks in the path of the storm, such as Cuyamaca State Park, Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, will also be closed due to flooding concerns. Additionally, all incoming camping reservations for impacted areas are being canceled Sunday-Tuesday, August 20-22.
Parks staff are connecting with current campers, advising them of the dangers from the hurricane. More park units may be closed with little notice. The department reports it will continue to use a monitor and adapt strategy to protect the safety of its employees and the public. For the latest park closures, please visit parks.ca.gov/Incidents.
12m ago / 1:44 PM UTC
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.
1h ago / 12:52 PM UTC
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.
2h ago / 11:40 AM UTC
‘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.
3h ago / 10:55 AM UTC
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.
4h ago / 9:55 AM UTC
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.
5h ago / 9:00 AM UTC
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.
6h ago / 8:00 AM UTC
California state beaches and parks closed ahead of storm
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.
6h ago / 8:00 AM UTC
Flash flood risk from Tropical Storm Hilary
6h ago / 8:00 AM UTC
San Diego County declares state of emergency
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.
6h ago / 8:00 AM UTC
Photo: People fill up sandbags in Long Beach
![Long Beach lifeguards fill up sandbags for residents ahead of Hurricane Hilary, in Long Beach, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023.](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2023-08/230819-hurricane-hilary-sandbags-2-cc-1133p-8e0979.jpg)
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com