(Scypre.com) – Forecasters are issuing warnings as Hurricane Hilary gains strength rapidly and is predicted to escalate into a major hurricane by day’s end, posing a potential impact on California and the Southwest.
At midday on Thursday, Hurricane Hilary, now categorized as a Category 2 hurricane, is positioned approximately 500 miles south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. It boasts sustained winds reaching 105 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory indicates that the Southwestern United States can anticipate substantial rainfall due to the influence of Hurricane Hilary from Friday until early next week. The peak of this effect is forecasted for Sunday and Monday.
The advisory predicts rainfall ranging from 2 to 4 inches, with localized areas receiving over 8 inches of precipitation. Moreover, they anticipate significant rainfall, measuring several inches, extending to parts of Arizona and Utah until next Wednesday.
Rapid intensification, as defined by the NHC and reported by the network, transpires when a tropical cyclone’s maximum sustained winds escalate by a minimum of 35 mph within a 24-hour span. The NHC forecasts a swift increase in strength, suggesting the potential for Hurricane Hilary to become a major hurricane by the present day.
As Hurricane Hilary advances, hurricane-force winds are already extending outward by about 70 miles from its center. The Mexican government has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the southern segment of Baja California Sur, spanning from Cabo San Lazaro southward on the west coast, and Los Barriles southward on the east coast.
Additionally, a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the region extending north of Cabo San Lazaro to Puerto San Andresito on the west coast, as announced by the NHC.
The NHC further notes that the influence of Hurricane Hilary will give rise to substantial swells along portions of the southwestern Mexico coast and the Baja California peninsula over the forthcoming days. These swells carry the potential for life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.