Ignacio Martinez

  • Long Beach, CA – August 18: Long Beach lifeguards fill sand bags as residents pick them up to fortify their homes while crews build a sand berm along the shore of Long Beach near Alamitos Bay ahead of anticipated high surf, strong winds and flooding from the approaching Hurricane Hilary in Long Beach Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. Long Beach, an area ravaged by the last tropical storm to hit California in 1939, is urging residents in low-lying areas to protect their property with sandbags.As Hurricane Hilary continues its march toward Southern California, officials have issued an unprecedented tropical storm watch for the region. The watch is in effect for much of southwestern California, from the San Diego deserts to the San Bernardino County mountains and onto Catalina Island, something the National Hurricane Center said is a first for this area. A tropical storm watch indicates that tropical storm conditions are possible meaning more than 39 mph sustained winds within 48 hours, according to the hurricane center. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)Environment

    Hurricane Hilary has Southern California preparing for first tropical storm in 84 years: ‘A whole summer and fall amount of rain coming in probably 6 to 12 hours’

    By Ignacio Martinez, Julie Watson, and others