RANCHO MIRAGE, California, Aug 21: Tropical Storm Hilary wreaked devastation in Mexico’s Baja California peninsula before making a historic entry into California on Sunday, bringing severe flash floods to both the eastern and western parts of Los Angeles.
One person was killed in Mexico as a result of flash floods on the peninsula, where roads were washed away and social media showed rivers of water rushing through streets.
In an area accustomed to drought, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a state of emergency for much of Southern California, with flash flood warnings in effect until 3 a.m. (1000 GMT) on Monday.
Meteorologists estimate that mountain and desert areas will receive 5 to 10 inches (12 to 25 cm) of rain, the amount they typically receive in a year. The first tropical storm to impact Los Angeles County since 1939 caused major flooding in the San Gabriel Mountains east of the city and along the coast of Ventura County to the northwest.
San Bernardino County ordered evacuations in several towns in the mountains and valleys, where photographs on social media showed torrents of water, mud, rocks, and trees.
