FEARS OF FLOODING

California Issues First-Ever Tropical Storm Warning Ahead of Hurricane Hilary

The National Hurricane Center warned that “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” could result from the storm, which weakened to a Category 2 before making landfall.

California is under its first-ever tropical storm warning as Hurricane Hilary prepares to strike the southern part of the state and much of the Southwest. The weather system weakened to a Category 2 storm on Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center, which warned it was still a major hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour. The hurricane is expected to bring “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding,” according to the center. The areas expected to be hardest hit include San Diego, Palm Springs, and parts of southern Nevada. Local electricity company Southern California Edison urged its more than 15 million customers in the area to stockpile flashlights and battery chargers, warning that the storm will disrupt much of its jurisdiction. President Joe Biden said the Federal Emergency Management Agency had already positioned supplies and personnel in the area, while California and Nevada prepared National Guard troops to respond to damage from the flooding.