Home / Weather News /

Alongside earthquake: historic tropical storm hits California

11:00
21 August 2023

Alongside earthquake
Historic tropical storm hits California

Earthquake and rain mapA 5.1 magnitude earthquake Sunday evening accompanied the impact of Tropical Storm Hilary for Los Angeles, California.

California felt the impact of a rare tropical storm this weekend, alongside the arrival of a 5.1 magnitude earthquake close to Los Angeles.

Hurricane Hilary lost momentum before making landfall in the U.S. but is still delivering torrential rainfall and strong winds in California and Nevada.

More than 25 million people are subject to flood warnings across the southwestern states, from California to Idaho. The system is expected to travel towards Idaho throughout Monday, where it will dissipate.

Recommended external content from YouTube

We need your consent to show content from YouTube. You can withdraw your consent at any time.

I agree that content from YouTube will be displayed to me.

Settings for external content

Privacy policy

Flooding and severe weather conditions were felt over the weekend. We have footage from our reporter in California showing the treacherous driving conditions in the video above.

Up to 10 inches of intense rainfall is expected today in regions not accustomed to, or capable of, seeing so much rain. The largely deserted landscapes in the southwest U.S. cannot absorb water well, resulting in flash floods.

Daily rainfall records were broken in many areas on Sunday:

LocationNew record (old record)
Palmdale2.95 inches (0.05 inches in 1934)
Lancaster2.72 inches (most since records began)
Long Beach1.56 inches (most since 2002)
Los Angeles - Downtown1.53 inches (0.03 inches 1906)

In addition to Tropical Storm Hilary, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake was felt west of Los Angeles on Sunday in Ojai. No damage was reported in the aftermath, with most people busy preparing for their first tropical storm since 1939.

While flooding is by far the biggest hazard from Hilary, there have been some very gusty winds in Southern California, especially in the mountains, where gusts upwards of 70 mph have been measured.

In Baja California, Mexico at least one person was killed by the storm as it passed and caused major flooding in the state.

Historic rainfall from Hurricane Hilaryread more

We will keep you updated on the situation as Hilary continues travelling in-land.

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Small wooded island with a white beach and surrounding coral reef in the deep blue sea.
Thursday 6 November 2025

Ocean warming

Sea level rise is accelerating
full moon in the sky
Tuesday 4 November 2025

Supermoon over bonfires

Largest full moon of the year
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing temperatures between 15°C and 17°C in major cities like London, Cardiff, Dublin, and Aberdeen, with an icon of a red thermometer on the left.
Thursday 6 November 2025

Unseasonable warmth

Mild autumn temperatures continue
All weather news
This might also interest you
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing scattered showers with cloudy patches across much of the region, especially around western and northern areas. Sunshine symbols appear over London, Cardiff, and parts of southern England, while temperatures range from 17°C to 18°C in most places. Areas of heavier rain are visible over the Atlantic to the west.
Friday 29 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Unsettled conditions into the weekend
Sunday 17 August 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Summer shots from a warm week
Monday 25 August 2025

Bank holiday outlook

Warm day turning gusty in places
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement