Hurricane Hillary intensifies, threatens flooding in US Southwest

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Hilary is swiftly strengthening in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico and is on course to bring potentially heavy rain and flooding to sections of the US Southwest starting this weekend.

According to the NHC's most recent advisory, as of Thursday night, storm Hilary has grown to a major Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph and considerably stronger gusts, according to CNN.

According to the Center, the storm will most certainly strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane on Friday with winds of at least 130 mph.

As of Thursday night, the hurricane was located about 445 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Parts of the Southwest might experience Hilary's rain as early as Saturday, with California expected to experience its biggest effects on August 21.

The worst of Hilary's winds, which are powerful enough to snap trees, bring down power lines, and seriously harm property, will blow through parts o f northwest Mexico depending on changes in the anticipated trajectory.

The NHC predicts that Hurricane Harvey would weaken considerably before it makes landfall in Southern California and certain portions of the Southwest, but CNN stated that there was still a growing possibility that the se regions might experience substantial effects, such as torrential rain and floods.

If the storm makes landfall in California as a tropical storm, it would be the first in nearly 84 years, and only the third tropical storm or stronger to do so on record, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.