Hilary Becomes a Major Hurricane, May Bring ‘Significant Impacts’ to US Southwest

Tropical Storm Hilary became a hurricane early Thursday morning as forecasters warned it could intensify and bring rare impacts into Southern California.

A satellite image shows Hurricane Hilary off the Pacific coast of Mexico at 10:50 a.m. ET on Aug. 17, 2023. NOAA via AP

A tropical storm, Hilary, became a hurricane early on Aug. 17 off Mexico’s Pacific coast, and later rapidly strengthened into a major hurricane, as forecasters warned that it has the potential to bring devastating rainfall and high winds to Southern California and the southwestern United States by the end of the week.

“Hilary has the potential to bring significant impacts to the Baja California Peninsula and portions of the southwestern United States this weekend and early next week,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in an advisory.