First-ever tropical storm watch issued for Southern California as Hurricane Hilary barrels north
Re-post from LATimes.com
BY JEREMY CHILDS, GRACE TOOHEY
As Hurricane Hilary continues its march toward Southern California, officials have issued an unprecedented tropical storm watch for the region.
The watch is in effect from the California-Mexico border to the Orange County-Los Angeles County line and for Catalina Island, something the National Hurricane Center said is a first for this area. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible, generally within 48 hours, according to the hurricane center.
Hilary, currently a Category 4 hurricane, is expected to bring pounding rain and a “distinct risk” of flash floods from the Baja California Peninsula into southern Nevada over the next few days.
Fluctuations in the storm’s strength are expected throughout the day Friday, but a weakening should begin by the end of the day, forecasters said.