For the first time in its history, California finds itself under a ‘tropical storm watch’.
On August 18, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for the entirety of California as Hurricane Hilary continues to intensify in the Pacific Ocean, near the Gulf of Mexico.
Although weather experts anticipate that Hilary, currently a Category 4 hurricane, will weaken to a tropical storm by the time it reaches California shores, there are rising concerns over the potential for substantial rainfall during the weekend, which could lead to extensive damage.
Some meteorologists predict that the volume of rainfall from Hurricane Hilary could exceed an entire year’s worth in certain locales.
In response to the potential threat, the National Weather Service has declared a flood watch for all of L.A. County, effective from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening.
Additionally, Orange County is on flood alert from Saturday night through Monday evening. Notably, Riverside County’s mountains, as well as San Diego County’s mountainous, desert, and coastal regions, have also been placed under flood watch, starting Saturday morning and extending through Monday.
For updated information on Hurricane Hilary, please visit National Weather Service. (https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=SGX&wwa=tropical%20storm%20watch)
On the website’s top section, residents can input their zip codes to obtain detailed hurricane forecasts specific to their areas.
Residents are urged to exercise caution by refraining from outdoor activities on Sunday and Monday. It’s also advisable to stock up on non-perishable items like canned foods and energy bars if necessary.
BY BYONG IL KIM, JUNHAN PARK [kim.byongil@koreadaily.com, park.junhan@koreadaily.com]
