Photos: Hilary brings historic flash floods, mudslides and downed trees

Kate Murphy
·Producer
Updated ·2-min read
A car floats in floodwater.
A car floats in floodwater in a street in Baja California, Mexico. (Alejandro Zepeda/EFE via ZUMA Press)

Tropical Storm Hilary pummeled Southern California on Sunday, unleashing flash floods, mudslides, downed trees and power outages. The storm first made landfall in Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and left at least one person dead.

In the desert resort city of Palm Springs, Calif., about 50% of the average annual rainfall was seen on Sunday, or more than 2.25 inches, according to meteorologists. Raywood Flats saw 10.55 inches, the most rainfall in Southern California as of Sunday evening.

Vehicles cross a flood control basin that has almost reached the street.
Vehicles cross a flood control basin that has almost reached the street on Aug. 20 in Palm Desert, Calif. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said during a Monday morning press conference there weren’t any major injuries from the storm and the majority of the impact included street flooding that stranded drivers and submerged cars across the city.

A car is partially submerged in floodwaters.
A car is partially submerged in floodwaters as Tropical Storm Hilary moves through Cathedral City, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also reported no injuries or damage from a 5.1 magnitude earthquake that also hit Southern California on Sunday.

Hilary was the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, according to forecasters.

The storm, previously a Category 1 hurricane, was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone early Monday morning. But due to ongoing heavy rain, multiple flash flood warnings have been issued for the Southwestern U.S. as the storm heads north, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A tow truck driver attempts to pull a stranded car out of floodwaters.
A tow truck driver attempts to pull a stranded car out of floodwaters on the Golden State Freeway. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Palm trees are hit by strong wind and rain.
Palm trees are hit by strong wind and rain from Tropical Storm Hilary in the deserts of Southern California. (David McNew/Getty Images)
A person uses a walker to cross a flooded street.
A person uses a walker to cross a street flooded by torrential rain brought by Tropical Storm Hilary in Thousand Palms, Calif. (/Mark J. Terrill/AP)
A man tries to clear a drain.
A man tries to clear a drain as Tropical Storm Hilary makes landfall in Ensenada, Mexico , on Sunday.`(Wally Skalij/Los Angles Times)
A driver remove belongings from his vehicle after being stranded on a flooded street.
A driver remove belongings from his vehicle after being stranded on a flooded street in Palm Desert, Calif. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)
A downed tree covers over two vehicles.
A downed tree covers over two vehicles outside of a home in Sun Valley, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
Workers attempt to unclog a drain on a flooded street.
Workers attempt to unclog a drain on a flooded street as Tropical Storm Hilary moves through Rancho Mirage, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Vehicles drive on a flooded street.
Vehicles drive on a flooded street in Cathedral City, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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