5:33 p.m. ET, August 20, 2023
San Diego expects the worst of Tropical Storm Hilary to hit in the next several hours
A sign warns motorists of severe storm conditions along Highway 52 in San Diego as Tropical Storm Hilary approaches Sunday, August 20.
Sandy Huffaker/Reuters
San Diego officials are bracing for the full effects of Tropical Storm Hilary to hit in the next several hours and have strategically placed resources throughout the area to quickly respond to rescues, power outages and downed trees, officials said in a Sunday news conference.
The storm is about 90 miles from the US border and about 115 miles southeast of downtown San Diego, the National Hurricane Center said at 2 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET).
Some areas of San Diego County have already seen 3 to 4 inches of rain and are expected to see three times that much as the storm moves through, NOAA meteorologist Alex Tardy told media. The county’s desert and mountains can expect five to 10 inches of rain.
The storm “already gathered its strength, its moisture, and its rain and wind, and that’s coming our way,” Tardy said, noting that some rock slide and debris flows are already occurring.
Rural areas are expected to get hit the hardest by the storm, and first responders are coordinating across different agencies, San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez said.
