Hilary, the initial tropical storm to make landfall in Southern California in 84 years, carried people into surging rivers, uprooted trees onto residences, and inundated roadways as it advanced northward on Monday.

This colossal weather system triggered flood watches and warnings across over seven states.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Hilary had significantly weakened, with only remnants of the storm moving over the Rocky Mountains, the Associated Press has reported.

However, they cautioned that “persistent life-threatening and locally disastrous flooding” was anticipated in parts of the southwestern U.S. due to the aftermath of unprecedented rainfall.

Hilary initially struck Mexico’s arid Baja California Peninsula as a hurricane, causing widespread flooding and resulting in one fatality before transitioning into a tropical storm.

This marked one of multiple potentially catastrophic natural occurrences impacting California on Sunday. Alongside the tropical storm, which prompted tornado alerts, there were wildfires and a moderate earthquake in the vicinity of Los Angeles.

As of now, no fatalities, severe injuries, or extensive damage have been reported in the state. Nevertheless, officials emphasized ongoing risks, particularly in mountainous regions where the saturated slopes could trigger mudslides.

Written by staff