Tropical storm Hilary: Did it make landfall in SoCal?

In August 2023, Hurricane Hilary churned in the eastern Pacific and ended up making landfall as a tropical storm along the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. Hilary did not make landfall as a tropical storm in California as previously thought, according to NOAA.

Hilary brought dangerous flooding and gusty winds to California when it hit in August 2023, but it is no longer officially part of the short list of tropical systems to make landfall in the Golden State since it made landfall in the Baja California Peninsula.

Where it made landfall doesn’t take away from the fact that tropical storm conditions were felt across southern California when it made landfall, however. Over $900 million in damages were recorded in the U.S. and Mexico after Hilary hit, with 3 fatalities.

NOAA’s analysis points out that the mountainous terrain of the Baja California Peninsula had a large impact on Hilary as it moved north-northeast. The tall mountains helped shear the storm, which makes it hard for any tropical system to maintain strength.

In California, only two tropical systems of tropical storm strength or higher have made landfall. The first on record was the San Diego Hurricane of 1858 and the second was the 1939 Long Beach Tropical Storm.

We don’t see many tropical systems make it into the Golden State often due to the need for warm waters to maintain tropical strength. Water temperatures off the coast are usually in the 50s and 60s, but anomalies can happen.

The Pacific Hurricane Season doesn’t begin until May 15 (85 days from now) but it is never too late to have preparations ready.