Hurricane Hilary threatens flooding, mudslides in California

Warm water fueled Hilary’s winds, which were holding steady at 145 miles (233 kilometers) per hour as of 2 p.m. local time, according to a US National Hurricane Center advisory. Hilary is forecast to come ashore in Mexico over the weekend before lashing California and the US Southwest with flooding rains through Monday.

Tropical storm watches have been posted in California from the border with Mexico to Los Angeles and Orange counties, the hurricane center said. Hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings have also been raised along much of Mexico’s Baja California coastline, as well as parts of its mainland shore. Heavy rains that could trigger landslides from late Friday to Sunday are likely across the peninsula.

The storm could get even stronger, potentially even reaching the maximum Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale before easing when it starts moving over cooler water, said Adam Douty, a meteorologist with commercial forecaster AccuWeather Inc.