Hilary makes landfall along Mexico’s Baha Coast bringing torrential rains to California

Flooded Slusser Road in Windsor, California on Februaru 14, 2023

Tropical Storm Hilary is now unleashing vicious winds and heavy rain across California, with forecasters saying things will only get worse.

By 11 a.m., Hilary made landfall as a tropical storm over the northern part of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. As it moves toward Southern California as a tropical storm flooding rain remains the highest threat, according to the National Weather Service.

By 2 p.m. California time, Hilary was 115 miles (180 kilometers) south-southeast of San Diego, the National Hurricane Center reported. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph) and was moving northwest at nearly 25 mph (41 kph).

Hilary’s center has yet to reach Southern California and is just a few hours away, but the state has been feeling the storm’s effects since early Sunday and the rainfall totals are starting to add up.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles (370 km) from the center. A sustained wind of 47 mph (75 km/h) with a gust of 70 mph (113 km/h) was reported at Sill Hill, California