Here’s What You Need to Know About Hurricane Hilary, the Category 4 Storm Heading to the Southwest

Hurricane Hillary has rapidly intensified, bringing flash flood danger to Baja California, Southern California, and much of the desert Southwest starting on Sunday, according to NOAAA and the National Hurricane Center, peaking through Monday with anticipated rainfall of 3 to 6 inches. There has not been the threat of a tropical storm of this nature since 1938.

According to the Weather Channel, “S​ome areas may see rounds of heavy downpours that can dump half an inch to an inch of rain or more in an hour, leading to flooding of normally dry creeks and arroyos. Landslides and mudslides are possible in a few areas, especially where at least moderate rainfall happens over areas recently burned by wildfires.”

In Southern California, high surf, coastal flooding, and rip currents will also be a significant threat, as well as power outages and tree damage.

Major airlines have announced that they will waive change and cancel fees for customers planning on traveling through Los Cabos, but specifics vary from airline to airline. Be sure to check in with Alaska, American, United, JetBlue, and Southwest for their specific cancellation policies as the situation evolves. All are currently offering some sort of waiver for travelers flying through the region, and it’s plausible that the same may happen for Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas if the storm continues on its path in that direction. Travelers should be sure to check their flight status with their airline before arriving at the airport, as this is a constantly evolving situation.

As always, be sure to have a survival and disaster preparedness plan in place, like this one from the CDC that is tailored specifically for storms.