Hurricane Hilary: Damage Report and Assessment
Annual Rainfall Averages Surpassed in 24 Hours
Regions of Southern California saw sustained winds from 30-60 mph and isolated rainfall totaling 12 inches, leaving thousands of residents without power and many homes threatened by imminent flooding. Additionally, V-Alert observed wave heights exceeding 10 feet along the coast with 14 swift water rescues conducted. San Diego, Los Angeles, and Riverside all recorded extreme record rainfall. Los Angeles recorded 2.99 inches, Riverside 1.83 inches, and San Diego 1.82 inches, smashing records that previously sat below 0.1 inches in a single day. This unprecedented weather event is yet another reminder of a changing ecosystem and a reminder of the importance of early and informed preparation to manage damage.
Regions of California See Flooding, Mudslides
Death Valley
One of the hottest places on earth received record rainfall and marked its wettest day in history. According to the National Weather Service, there was 2.2 inches of rain observed over 24 hours. Although this may not sound like a significant amount of rain, it can be catastrophic in a desert region and was equivalent to the regions annual average. The park experienced damage in several ways with some portions of roads in the valley being washed away or significantly damaged. Additionally, mud and debris was pushed over many roads requiring significant cleanup. Death Valley is now closed to visitors.
Palm Springs, Coachella Valley
Palm Springs also experienced record annual rainfall from the storm with totals reaching 3.18 inches by the end of Sunday. Because of this, the city saw major flooding and mudslides resulting in widespread road closures and damaged highways. Neighboring city Cathedral, CA was forced to declare a local emergency and experienced downed 911 lines for several hours. Aside from the inconvenience of road closures and power outages, many homes and businesses were severely damaged. One mobile home park lost 50 homes to the flooding that occurred.
