A powerful and damaging storm that pummeled portions of Mexico and the American Southwest last year was not a tropical storm when it hit California, as originally believed, federal officials have determined. The storm, known as Hurricane Hilary, began as an offshore hurricane before making landfall as a tropical storm in the Mexican state of Baja California on August 20. As it churned north toward San Diego, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire, it lost strength, resulting in significant impacts across the region.
According to a new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center, officials have confirmed that by the time Hilary reached California, it had degenerated into a post-tropical low. This designation means the storm no longer had the characteristics of a tropical cyclone, which is crucial for understanding its impact on the areas it affected.
Hilary prompted the first-ever tropical storm watches and warnings issued in California, highlighting the storm's unprecedented nature. However, as Brad Reinhart, a hurricane specialist with the National Hurricane Center, pointed out, the thunderstorm activity became increasingly disorganized, and it lost its well-defined center before reaching the state. This analysis not only sheds light on the storm's transformation but also emphasizes the importance of understanding the nature of such weather events.
What You Will Learn
- The transition of Hurricane Hilary from a tropical storm to a post-tropical low.
- Significant rainfall records set during the storm across Southern California.
- The impact of Hilary on infrastructure and communities in California and Mexico.
- The importance of storm watches and warnings in disaster preparedness.
