First Ever Tropical Storm Watches For Southern California With Hilary – National Weather Outlook For August 19, 2023

by | Aug 19, 2023 | Weather

National Weather Forecast

We’re tracking two major stories in the lower 48 Saturday. First, moisture streaming northward from Hilary and an upper level low near the central California coast will lead to showers and storms – some heavy – in the western United States. Excessive heat will be the main story in the central United States, with numerous Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories in place. Highs will be in the 100s as far north as Nebraska, and heat index values of 100F+ as far north as central Minnesota.

The heaviest rain through the weekend will be in the Southwest, associated with moisture from Hilary moving in. Some of the heaviest rain in this region will occur Sunday, and flooding can be expected as Sunday/Sunday Night totals of 7”+ are possible with 2-3” per hour rates. According to the Weather Prediction Center: “If a 7”+ maximum materialized over Mount Charleston Sunday into early Monday, it would challenge Nevada’s 24 hour rainfall record, set in 2004.”

We continue to track Hurricane Hilary in the eastern Pacific, which will head toward Baja California during the weekend and then southern California late in the weekend or early next week. By the time it gets there, it’ll be much weaker than it is now – but strong winds and very dangerous heavy rains and flooding are expected across the Southwest into the weekend and early next week.

For the first time in NHC/NWS history, a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for portions of California ahead of Hilary.

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