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
Monday 23 June 2025

Gusts of up to 45 mph

Wind warnings start the week
Tuesday 1 July 2025

Captured by you

June in pictures
Saturday 28 June 2025

Grab the sun cream

High UV levels to end the week
All weather news
This might also interest you
Wednesday 2 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Cooler with stormy potential
Wednesday 2 July 2025

Isolated strikes here

Storms across Europe mostly miss UK
Friday 4 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Gusty and wet end to the week
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement