Tropical Storm Hilary hits southern California

CALIFORNIA, Aug 21: Tropical Storm Hilary is barrelling through southern California where 26 million people are under flood warnings. Forecasters have warned of a "potentially historic amount of rain" in the southern area.

Meteorologists have predicted severe flooding in the usually arid part of the United States, as Tropical Storm Hilary raced in from Mexico.

One person died in Mexico amid reports of flash flooding in the Baja California peninsula, where some roads were swept away and images on social media showed torrents of water gushing down city streets that had been turned into rivers.

In a White House statement, US President Joe Biden said the federal government had deployed emergency teams and resources ahead of the storm and his administration “stands ready to provide additional assistance as requested. I urge people to take this storm seriously, and listen to state and local officials”.

Potentially historic amount of rainfall is expected to cause life-threatening to locally catastrophic flash, urban, and arroyo flooding including landslides, mudslides, and debris flows. Among other preparations, remember that driving through flooded roadways is NOT be an option. pic.twitter.com/FN88Rl24LX

— National Weather Service (@NWS) August 20, 2023

It is the first such storm to hit the state in 84 years - with record rains flooding Los Angeles and desert areas like Palm Springs and Death Valley. School classes and flights have been cancelled, with landslides, downed trees and flooded homes reported across southern California.

Earlier, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck the region as residents braced for Hilary but no major damage was reported.

Experts say recent abnormal weather events hitting the US and other countries have been influenced by human-caused climate change.

(BBC)