storm
Pacific hurricane “Hilary” off the coast of Mexico – the United States are preparing
The hurricane is expected to cause heavy rain in Baja California and northwestern Mexico. photo
© Uncredited/NOAA/AP/dpa
The cyclone off the northwest coast of Mexico is abating but remains dangerous. It brings heavy rain and rivers overflow. A man dies.
Pacific Hurricane Hilary weakened to a category one of five storm on its way to Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and the US state of California. Nevertheless, it will cause very heavy to heavy rain in Baja California and northwestern Mexico in the coming hours, the Mexican weather service said on Saturday (local time). The Southwest of the USA is also preparing for the unusual storm ahead.
The weather service also predicted that the cyclone would make landfall near Punta Eugenia on the Baja California peninsula and on the Mexican islands of Natividad and Cedros in the early hours of Sunday morning (local time). The hurricane also reportedly claimed a first fatality.
A man died as a result of the passage of “Hilary” along the Pacific coast of northwestern Mexico, the Mexican newspaper “El Universal” reported. Accordingly, a delivery truck was washed away in the municipality of Navolato in the state of Sinaloa and the driver was found dead a few kilometers from the scene of the accident. Four other people were rescued, said the mayor of the city of Mulegé in Baja California, Edith Aguilar Villavicencio. “Hilary” brought heavy rains and rivers to overflow. Authorities went on high alert. Ports have been closed, flights have been cancelled, shelters have been prepared.
US Weather Service: “Life-threatening floods”
Meanwhile, the American Southwest was preparing for the arrival of “Hilary”. In the US, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for large parts of southern California. The US weather service had warned of “life-threatening and catastrophic flooding” in the southwest of the country.
For Sunday, the weather service predicted heavy rains in the southern US states of California and Nevada and in parts of Arizona. “Hilary” will bring rainfall that exceeds annual averages in some locations. In addition, tropical storm conditions are expected in parts of Southern California on Sunday. “Hilary” was also traveling faster than initially predicted and should now arrive in the United States as a tropical storm on Sunday (local time).
Authorities in California ordered some residents near the coast or on higher ground to evacuate their homes. Nature parks have been closed and sporting events have been postponed. Regional media reported on Saturday from torrential streams on the coast of California and thunderstorms. California Director of Disaster Management Nancy Ward warned that Hilary could be one of the “most devastating storms” to hit the state in more than a decade. She pointed out that residents would have to be prepared for power outages.
The head of the federal disaster management agency, Deanne Criswell, also urged people in the southwest of the country to prepare for the storm. This includes, for example, charging mobile phones in order to be able to receive emergency warnings from the authorities. She is also in contact with the local authorities in order to be able to ensure rapid federal assistance in an emergency.