After hitting Southern California on Sunday as a tropical storm – the state's first since 1997 – Hilary headed into Nevada as the state's first-ever recorded tropical storm and was moving over central parts of the state early Monday, about 390 miles north of San Diego, packing sustained winds of 35 mph with higher gusts, the National Hurricane Center said.
The storm broke rainfall records across Southern California: Palm Springs got nearly a year's worth of rain with 4.3 inches in 24 hours, one of its rainiest days ever. Death Valley nearly set a record with 1.68 inches, and the Furnace Creek area, which usually gets about two-tenths of an inch in August, got 0.63 inches.
COACHELLA, CA - AUGUST 20, 2023: A driver whose car stalled out on flooded Avenue 48 gets bottled water from a passing motorist while waiting for help during tropical storm Hilary on August 20, 2023 in Coachella, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Gina Ferazzi
A worker from the Coachella Valley Water Department surveys the debris flow following heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary, at Thurderbird Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, on August 21, 2023. Tropical Storm Hilary drenched Southern California with record rainfall, shutting down schools, roads and businesses before edging in on Nevada on August 21, 2023. California Governor Gavin Newsom had declared a state of emergency over much of the typically dry area, where flash flood warnings remained in effect until this morning.
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Neighbors help residents trapped in their home, which was damaged by heavy mudflow following heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary, in Yucaipa, California, on August 21, 2023. Tropical Storm Hilary drenched Southern California with record rainfall, shutting down schools, roads and businesses before edging in on Nevada on August 21, 2023. California Governor Gavin Newsom had declared a state of emergency over much of the typically dry area, where flash flood warnings remained in effect until this morning.
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SUN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 21: A large eucalyptus tree branch rests on a car after falling overnight as tropical storm Hilary moved through the area on August 21, 2023 in Sun Valley, California. Much of Southern California and parts of Arizona and Nevada are cleaning up after being impacted by the tropical storm that brought several inches of rain that flooded roadways and winds that toppled trees and power lines across the region.
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SUN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: Cars are seen submerged in floodwaters on the Golden State Freeway as tropical storm Hilary moves through the area on August 20, 2023 in Sun Valley, California. Southern California is under a first-ever tropical storm warning as Hilary impacts parts of California, Arizona and Nevada. All California state beaches have been closed in San Diego and Orange counties in preparation for the impacts from the storm which was downgraded from hurricane status.
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INDIO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 21: A Jeep remains stuck in mud off a road that was hit by a flash flood in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Hilary on August 21, 2023 near Indio California. More than 40 million people were under the first-ever Tropical Storm Warning issued for Southern California. The National Weather Service had forecast a 'potentially catastrophic situation' as a result of a heat wave in ocean temperatures off Mexico created a combination of the ocean phenomenon called El Niño and ocean warming climate change.
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SUN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 21: A large eucalyptus tree branch rests on cars after falling overnight as tropical storm Hilary moved through the area on August 21, 2023 in Sun Valley, California. Much of Southern California and parts of Arizona and Nevada are cleaning up after being impacted by the tropical storm that brought several inches of rain that flooded roadways and winds that toppled trees and power lines across the region.
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DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 21: A car is seen crashed into a wall in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Hilary on August 21, 2023 near Desert Hot Springs California. More than 40 million people were under the first-ever Tropical Storm Warning issued for Southern California. The National Weather Service had forecast a 'potentially catastrophic situation' as a result of a heat wave in ocean temperatures off Mexico created a combination of the ocean phenomenon called El Niño and ocean warming climate change.
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IMPERIAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: People stand on a pier over the Pacific Ocean with Hurricane Hilary approaching in San Diego County on August 20, 2023 in Imperial Beach, California. Southern California is under a first-ever tropical storm warning as Hurricane Hilary approaches with parts of California, Arizona, and Nevada preparing for flooding and heavy rains. All California state beaches have been closed in San Diego and Orange counties in preparation for the impacts from the hurricane.
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CATHEDRAL CITY, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: A person looks on from a residence toward a car partially submerged in floodwaters as Tropical Storm Hilary moves through the area on August 20, 2023 in Cathedral City, California. Southern California is under a first-ever tropical storm warning as Hilary impacts parts of California, Arizona and Nevada. All California state beaches have been closed in San Diego and Orange counties in preparation for the impacts from the storm which was downgraded from hurricane status.
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PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 20: First responders keep watch near a vehicle that flipped over during rainfall from approaching Tropical Storm Hilary on August 20, 2023 near Palm Springs, California. Southern California is under a first-ever tropical storm warning as Hilary nears, with parts of California, Arizona and Nevada preparing for flooding and heavy rains. All California state beaches have been closed in San Diego and Orange counties in preparation for the impacts from the storm, which was downgraded from hurricane status.
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COACHELLA, CA - AUGUST 20, 2023: A Riverside County fire engine blasts through flood waters creating rooster tails which cover two cars stuck in the flood water on Avenue 48 during tropical storm Hilary on August 20, 2023 in Coachella, California. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Gina Ferazzi
A cyclist and pedestrians cross a flooded street in Imperial Beach, California on August 20, 2023. Hurricane Hilary weakened to a tropical storm on August 20, 2023, as it barreled up Mexico's Pacific coast, but was still likely to bring life-threatening flooding to the typically arid southwestern United States, forecasters said. Authorities reported at least one fatality in northwestern Mexico, where Hilary lashed the Baja California Peninsula with heavy rain and strong winds.
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