With Hurricane Hilary strengthening to Category 4 status in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California as it makes its way toward Southern California, a first-of-its-kind tropical storm watch was issued Friday across San Diego County.
The watch, which indicates that "tropical storm-force winds are possible somewhere within this area within the next 48 hours," is the first ever issued in Southern California, according to the National Weather Service. A tropical storm has not made landfall in California since 1939, forecasters said.
The watch covers essentially the entire county, including coastal areas, deserts, mountains and valleys.
The NWS noted that the hurricane will weaken as it moves north, devolving to a tropical storm as it reaches Southern California over the weekend, but it will still pack a punch, with heavy rain likely to prompt flash flooding in some mountain and foothill areas, along with powerful winds Sunday into Monday.
Forecasters warned that the storm could have major impacts, including:
Emergency resources
- Sandbag pickup locations available here. Call these numbers to check for availability first.
- Information on road closures
- SDG&E power outage map
- Reporting road-related issues
- National Weather Service
- Tips for driving in the rain
— flooding that might prompt evacuation orders;
— heavy rain that could turn small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches into "dangerous rivers," leading to potentially destructive runoff in mountain valleys that could raise the risk of rock slides, mudslides and debris flows; and
— flooding of streets and parking lots that will make driving conditions dangerous and potentially prompt road and bridge closures.
Moisture from the storm is expected to start impacting the region as early as Saturday.
"Widespread heavy rainfall is expected for Saturday into Monday with the most widespread and heaviest rainfall expected for Sunday night," according to the National Weather Service.
The exact path of the storm remained in flux Friday, with forecasters noting that even slight shifts in its track could dramatically impact rainfall totals.
"Regardless of the exact track and intensity of Hilary, which could continue to change in the coming days, it will bring a substantial surge in moisture into Southern California, with heavy rainfall and a high potential for flash flooding, especially for the mountains and deserts," according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters said mountains in Riverside and San Diego counties could see 4 to 8 inches of rain, possibly up to 10 inches on some eastern slopes, between Saturday and Monday. Lower desert areas could receive 5 to 7 inches. Coastal areas are anticipated to get between and inch and an inch-and-a-half of rain, with valleys getting 1.5 to 2 inches.
Storm safety tips
- Stay informed. Monitor television and radio for flood watches or warnings.
- Keep your gas tank full in case of evacuation or power outages.
- Use sandbags to divert water.
- Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
- Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If you see a downed power line, call 911 and (800) 411-SDGE to report it. If someone has come in contact with electrical equipment, don't touch them.
- Keep a written list of emergency contacts.
- Make a plan in case of an emergency. Speak with family, friends and/or neighbors who can help ahead of time. If you rely on electrically operated medical equipment, make a plan for backup power.
- If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the area. Call 911 or SDG&E at (800) 611-7343.
- Secure outdoor items to prevent them from flying away.
- Gather supplies such as food, water and a flashlight to last at least three to five days.
- Call 211 for information including on disaster resources available 24 hours a day in over 200 languages.
Sources: Ready.gov, County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services, 211 San Diego, SDG&E.
The NWS issued a flood watch that will be in effect from Saturday morning through Monday in the San Diego County mountains, deserts, valleys and coastal areas, along with the Riverside County mountains and valleys, the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.
Forecasters said the heavy rains could result in excessive runoff that might flood rivers, creeks and streams and cause debris flows in recent burn areas.
"In addition to the rainfall and flooding threat, another concern is the potential for strong east winds Sunday and Monday," according to the NWS. "The wind threat will be more dependent on the track of Hilary. Should Hilary have a more westerly track, the wind threat would likely be greater, and if the track is more easterly, the threat would be less.
"The combination of heavy rainfall, the potential for flash flooding, and strong winds could very well make this a high-impact event for Southern California."
The city of San Diego was preparing for Hilary by placing "no parking" signs in low-lying or flood-risk areas, especially crossings around the San Diego River. Stormwater Department crews will also be cleaning storm drains and inlets with a history of debris buildup, street sweeping to reduce trash and pollutants from entering waterways, and monitoring 15 pump stations and more than 46,000 storm drains citywide for any issues.
Sandbags are also available in limited supply and can be picked up at 10 recreation centers centrally located in each City Council District. Residents with identification showing proof of residency can receive up to 10 empty sandbags.
Due to the anticipated impacts of Hurricane Hilary, which is expected to weaken but make landfall in Southern California later this weekend, Sunday's San Diego Padres game against the Arizona Diamondbacks has been rescheduled to Saturday. The teams will play a double-header at Petco Park on Saturday.
San Diego State University will transition to virtual instruction Monday, citing storm safety concerns. The university said it expects to return to normal instruction Tuesday.
Also, Amtrack announced Friday evening that Pacific Surfliner trains 761 and 794 between Los Angeles and San Diego will be canceled Saturday night through Monday morning. Additional cancellations are possible depending on storm impacts, according to the rail company.
Go here for a list of the locations and other information about how to avoid flooding and storm damage.
