Hilary updates: Over 1 foot of rain hits San Bernardino as LA avoids catastrophe

Hilary soaked Southern California, flooding roads and knocking out power.

ByNadine El-Bawab, Meredith Deliso, Jolie Lash, Kevin Shalvey, and Emily Shapiro
Last Updated: August 21, 2023, 2:14 PM EDT

All tropical storm warnings have been canceled across Southern California as the remnants of Hilary, which no longer meet the threshold of a tropical cyclone, track north.

Once a Category 4 hurricane, Hilary tore through Southern California with historic rainfall on Sunday, flooding roads and knocking out power.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Aug 19, 2023, 3:58 PM EDT

Rare 'high risk' forecast for excessive rainfall issued

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Prediction Center issued a rare "high risk" forecast for excessive rainfall for Sunday across a large swath of Southern California, from Palm Springs up toward Death Valley.

Ahead of widespread rain as Hurricane Hilary comes closer to the Coachella Valley, residents fill sandbags at the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on Aug. 18, 2023.
Taya Gray/USA Today Network

"High risk" forecasts are only issued a couple times a year on average, and 39% of all flood-related fatalities and 83% of all flood-related damages in the U.S. occur on those days.

A "moderate risk" for extreme rainfall has also been issued from Las Vegas to San Diego and Los Angeles. Numerous flash floods could unfold in these areas as well, with some of them potentially significant and very dangerous.

The deadliest hazard associated with tropical cyclones over the past decade is flooding from heavy rain.

-ABC News' Dan Peck

Aug 19, 2023, 11:50 AM EDT

Southern California expected to see tropical storm winds Sunday

Winds from Hilary will reach tropical storm strength in Southern California on Sunday afternoon as the storm passes by.

Heavy rainfall is expected across the southwestern U.S., peaking late tonight through Sunday night. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated amounts of 10 inches, are expected across portions of Southern California and southern Nevada. Dangerous to catastrophic flooding is expected.

Elsewhere across portions of the western U.S., rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected, resulting in localized, some significant, flash flooding.

-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke

Aug 19, 2023, 11:50 AM EDT

Hurricane Hilary downgraded to a category 3 storm

Hurricane Hilary has entered cooler water and is starting to weaken, now a category 3 hurricane with sustained winds reaching 125 mph as it moves north-northwest at 16 mph.

Landfall is expected in Mexico on Sunday. The storm is then expected to be at tropical storm strength as it enters southern California, marking the first tropical storm in Southern California since Nora in 1997, more than 25 years ago.

Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding is expected in Southern California.

Rain from Hilary should reach California later Saturday. Early morning monsoonal showers have lead to flash flooding Saturday morning, but that is not associated with Hilary.

-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke

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