Hilary: A Category 4 Hurricane and a “Reasonable Warning” for Climate Change and Climate Change Risks in the Northern California and Nevada

Hilary is currently a category 4 Hurricane with wind speeds over 140mph. The National Hurricane Center is warning residents about heavy rainfall that could make “rare and dangerous flooding” possible in parts of Southern California and Nevada.

“The frequency and intensity of many extremes, such as heatwaves and heavy precipitation, have increased in recent decades. The world meteorological organization’s climate expert said that there is high confidence that human caused climate change is the main driver. “This is the new normal and does not come as a surprise.”

Although it is too early to know the location and magnitude of these impacts, interests should monitor the forecast and update their information when appropriate,” the NHC advised.

The NWS said that the last time a tropical storm hit the Golden State was in 1939. The storm caused flooding that killed 45 people and 48 died out at sea. At one point the valley was under 2 feet of water.

On October 2, 1858, a Hurricane grazed San Diego with winds as high as 75 mph just above the threshold for a storm.