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Climate and Environment

Tropical Storm Hilary Walloped SoCal. Here's How Things Are Looking After The Rain

By  Jacob Margolis
Updated Aug 21, 2023 1:36 PM
Published Aug 20, 2023 3:07 PM
A car sitting in water surrounded by palm trees.
A car is partially submerged in floodwaters as Tropical Storm Hilary moves through the area on August 20, 2023 in Cathedral City, California.
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Mario Tama
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Getty Images
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The storm formerly known as Hurricane Hilary has broken down and moved on to Nevada, leaving behind flooded roads, downed trees, stranded cars and soaked residents.

A person walking with a propane tank across a flooded road.
A city employee retrieves a propane tank from a flooded bridge as tropical storm Hilary makes landfall in Rancho Mirage, California on August, 20, 2023.
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JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images
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AFP
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As predicted, Southern California's first tropical storm to make landfall in 84 years hit the mountains, foothills and deserts the hardest.

"It was uncharted territory as much for us forecasters as it was the public who found what we were saying pretty hard to believe," said Miguel Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "We found it hard to believe ourselves, but we couldn't discount it. Couldn't deny it."

The latest

The center of Hilary passed over Los Angeles around 8 p.m. Sunday, though the heaviest rain fell between 2 and 6 p.m., dropping more than 1 inch per hour in some spots.

There have been no reports of any significant injuries or damage as of 8 a.m. Monday, though assessments are ongoing.

"We urge you to please be cautious of hazardous road conditions," L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at a Monday morning news conference.

Cars at night on the freeway submerged in water.
Cars are seen submerged in floodwaters on the Golden State Freeway as tropical storm Hilary moves through the area on August 20, 2023 in Sun Valley, California.
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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Getty Images North America
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Still, the storm was felt across the region:

  • Flooding, debris flows, downed power lines and trees were all an issue. Swift water rescues were performed.
  • LAFD responded to 1,833 emergency incidents.
  • LAPD was dispatched to 97 traffic incidents.
  • At around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, five vehicles were stranded in a flooded intersection in Sun Valley and one person had to be rescued.
  • The Sepulveda Basin in the San Fernando Valley remains flooded. Streets in the area are closed.
  • Approximately 18,000 people were still without power as of 8 a.m. Monday, with the largest outage in Beverley Grove. Those in Pico Union, Brentwood and Hollywood remain impacted. More than 41,000 people lost power during the storm, mostly in metro areas.
  • There was extensive flooding in streams that feed the L.A. Aqueduct, but the infrastructure that delivers water to the city remains intact.

Across L.A. County, it was the San Gabriel mountains and the Antelope Valley that saw some of the heaviest bands of precipitation.

Rainfall totals as of early Monday:

  • Lewis Ranch (L.A. mountains): 7.04 inches
  • Saugus (Santa Clarita): 6.46 inches
  • Lake Palmdale (Antelope Valley): 5.98 inches
  • Mt. Baldy: 5.8 inches
  • Hollywood Reservoir: 4.9 inches
  • Van Nuys (San Fernando Valley): 4.68 inches
  • Downtown L.A.: 2.98 inches
  • Catalina Island: 2.9 inches
  • Pasadena: 2.27 inches

Given how unusual it is for our region to see rain during this time of year, it's unsurprising that many daily rainfall records fell.

HILARY IMPACT
LAFD swift water rescue and urban search and rescue teams look for a reported person in the LA River at Fletcher Dr. No person was found.
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Brian Feinzimer
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for LAist
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Flood watches are still in effect for Los Angeles and surrounding counties as the storm wraps up. They'll likely be lifted by Tuesday.

“We’ve made it this far. Let’s make it to the final home stretch here,” said Ariel Cohen, meteorologist in charge with the National Weather Service.

Palm Springs received a record setting 3.18 inches of rain, their largest amount in 93 years. Roads were washed out and streets flooded.

A road with water running across it.
Roads are washed out as Tropical Storm Hilary heads north into Palm Springs, California, on August 20, 2023.
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DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images
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AFP
)

Homes in nearby Cathedral City were inundated with mud and water.

The 911 system across the Coachella Valley went down overnight, and as of 7 a.m., there was no estimated time for restoration.

Two people standing in water with their car.
Motorists deal with a flooded road and stuck vehichles during heavy rains from Tropical Storm Hilary in Palm Springs, California, on August 20, 2023.
(
DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images
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AFP
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Riverside County provided the following alternative numbers for residents to call if help is needed:

  • Indio: (760) 775-3730
  • Palm Springs: (760) 327-1441
  • Desert Hot Springs: (760) 329-2904
  • Cathedral City: (760) 770-0303
  • Sheriff's Dept: (760) 836-3220

Oak Glen and Forest Falls in San Bernardino County also experienced significant debris flows.

The forecast

Water rushing in front of a sidewalk with items on it.
Tents and belongings of unhoused people are seen near the rushing water of the Los Angeles River, near Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California on August 20, 2023.
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ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
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AFP
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  • Rainfall: The worst of the rain should taper off by early Monday, though the chance of showers and thunderstorms will remain through the rest of the day.
  • Wind: Winds will continue to die down as well. However, gusts as strong as 50 mph may blow through.
People standing on sand with waves.
Surfers and beach goers watch the waves from broken sand berms in Long Beach, California, on August 20, 2023.
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ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
/
AFP
)

Cancellations and closures

  • Roads across the region are still closed. Click through to this Cal Trans map for details.
  • The following L.A. County school districts have closed for Monday:
    • LAUSD
    • Inglewood
    • Acton-Agua Dulce
    • Pasadena
    • Paramount
    • Saugus Union
    • William S. Hart Union High
    • Castaic
    • Newhall
    • Sulphur Springs Union
    • Westside Union
    • Eastside Union
    • Antelope Valley High
    • Lancaster
    • Palmdale
    • Rosemead
    • Hughes-Elizabeth Lakes Union (except for Gorman Elementary)
  • Classes have been canceled at Cal State LA.
  • State beaches in Orange and San Diego counties are closed through Monday.
  • Parks across L.A. County are closed on Monday.
  • Joshua Tree is closed until Monday afternoon. Death Valley National Park and the Mojave National Preserve, which just saw its most destructive fire on record, is closed as well.

Shelters in L.A.

The city of L.A. is providing shelters to unhoused people at the following locations:

  • Echo Park Community Center
    313 Patton St., Los Angeles 90026
  • North Hollywood Senior Center
    5301 Tujunga Ave., Los Angeles, CA 91601
  • Lake View Terrace Recreation Center
    11075 Foothill Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 91342
  • Central Park Recreation Center
    1357 E. 22nd St., Los Angeles, CA 90011
  • Stoner Recreation Center
    1835 Stoner Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • Lanark Recreation Center
    21816 Lanark St., Canoga Park, CA 91304
  • South L.A. Sports Activity Center
    7020 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90003
    (Opening Sunday)
  • Glassell Park Recreation Center
    3650 Verdugo Rd, Los Angeles 90065
    (Opening Sunday)

Downed tree, power line or flooded road?

If you need to report a flooded road or a downed tree, you can call the following non-emergency numbers:

  • L.A. City: Dial 311 for a flooded road or downed tree. Call (800) DIAL-DWP if you see a downed power line.
  • L.A. County: (800) 675-HELP
  • Ventura County: (805) 384-1500
  • Orange County: (714) 955-0200 or visit here.

If you're in L.A. County and need sand bags, you can find them at local fire houses.

Dial 911 if it's an emergency.

Sign up for emergency alerts

LAFD SAFETY TIPS

  • As Hurricane Hilary approaches, it's important to have a safety plan in place. Advice from L.A. County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone:

    • Have an evacuation plan
    • Create an emergency supply kit
    • Have a backup battery for any essential medical equipment
    • Stay out of the ocean and floodwaters, and avoid moving water
    • Place sandbags around homes and apartments in areas prone to flooding
    • Never approach downed power lines
    • Watch out for falling trees and power lines
    • Boat operators: evaluate the storm forecast and impact on marinas and harbors

  • A detailed list of emergency kit items can be found at ready.la county.gov; there will be real-time emergency updates on the county’s emergency website, found on the county’s landing page: LA county.gov/emergency.

The context

The last time we were directly hit by a tropical storm was in 1939, when one made landfall in Long Beach, according to the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

While the track of this storm was unusual, the hurricane itself was not.

“So far this season has played out as expected,” said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical cyclones regularly form off the coast of Southwest Mexico between May and November. While they usually track west out into the Pacific, they can head north toward Baja.

Sometimes they do indirectly affect Southern California. In September 2022, Hurricane Kay dropped more than 5 inches of rain on the area, causing flooding and damaging homes.

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