Mexico braced for a powerful Pacific hurricane on Friday, which prompted a warning of potentially catastrophic floods in a northwestern tourist destination and the neighbouring US state of California.
The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) warned that Hurricane Hilary would bring severe winds, flash floods, and life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
According to the National Hurricane Centre, Hilary’s maximum sustained winds reached roughly 145 miles (230 km) per hour before slowing significantly on Friday.
It was a Category Four hurricane, the second-most powerful on the one-to-five Saffir-Simpson scale.
The National Weather Service warned that life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flooding was possible throughout much of Baja California and southern California this weekend and early next week.
Residents and workers in Cabo San Lucas prepared by erecting protective boards, laying sandbags, and storing furniture as enormous waves swept onshore.
Navy officers were spotted patrolling the beach at Cabo San Lucas, a famous tourist destination for both Mexican and international visitors.
The NHC reported Hilary was around 285 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas on the southern tip of Baja California.
“On the forecast track, Hilary’s centre will move close to the west coast of the Baja California peninsula over the weekend and reach southern California by Sunday night”, it said.
A hurricane warning was issued for a section of Baja California coastline from Punta Abreojos to Cabo San Quintin, while a hurricane watch was issued from there north to Ensenada.
According to the National Hurricane Centre, an exceptional tropical storm watch was in force from the California/Mexico border to Point Mugu in Ventura County, as well as for Catalina Island.
“Fluctuations in intensity are likely through tonight”, the forecast said.
“While Hilary is expected to weaken by Saturday, it will still be a hurricane when it makes landfall on the west coast of the Baja California peninsula Saturday night and Sunday. Hilary is expected to weaken to a tropical storm before reaching southern California late Sunday”, the NHC stated.
Rain and heavy seas washed over portions of Mexico’s southwestern Pacific coast, including the tourist destination of Acapulco.
Rainfall amounts of three to six inches, with isolated amounts of ten inches, are expected across portions of southern California and southern Nevada in the United States. Flooding ranging from dangerous to locally catastrophic is possible, according to the NHC.
As the storm approaches, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer have rescheduled games in the region for Sunday.
Every year, hurricanes affect Mexico’s Pacific and Atlantic shores, mainly between May and November.
Cyclones rarely strike California with tropical storm intensity, though their remnants occasionally do.
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