Tropical Storm Hilary is nearing landfall in Southern California, marking the first time a tropical storm will have hit the area of the state since 1939.
Officials have been tracking the tropical storm for some time, as some cities have encouraged residents to prepare for the expected flooding caused by torrential rainfall in dry areas of the state.
The storm made landfall in Mexico on Sunday, and at least one person has died as Hilary pummeled the peninsula of Baja, California, in Mexico, officials shared.
A statement from the Mexican government shared that the victim’s vehicle was swept away near the city of Santa Rosalía. The storm hit Mexico early on Sunday morning and was downgraded from a Category 2 storm to a Tropical Storm.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden was briefed on the storm.
Hilary now carries maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The forward speed of the hurricane did increase to 25 mph while it weakened overall, according to the National Hurricane Center.
State leaders have encouraged residents to be prepared for the effects of the storm, as the Director of the California Department of Water Resources, Karla Nemeth, shared during a news conference Saturday that dam operators and facilities are preparing for the sheer amount of rain.
“People may see spillway gates open and the release of floodwaters. That is a normal flood operations procedure, and we anticipate in dams in Southern California, eastern San Diego County, those kind of facilities may be activated,” Nemeth said.
The National Weather Surface has shared that the effects of the storm are expected to continue through Monday.
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