Hurricane Hilary: Hurricane Hilary is approaching California and Arizona, bringing the possibility of storms and inundation. Here is what you need to know about its trajectory and what to anticipate.
Bullhead City offers sandbags before a typhoon
As Hurricane Hilary continued its path towards California and Arizona on Friday evening, the Bullhead City Police Department urged residents to prepare.
The Police Department stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that significant rainfall was anticipated over the weekend. The agency requested that residents:
- Protect objects in the garden.
- Think about outdoor activities.
- Avoid travelling unnecessarily.
The city also announced that residents could obtain sandbags for safety purposes. Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., sand and sandbags will be available under the large ramada at Rotary Park near the intersection of Lakeside and Balboa drives.
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Hilary is not Arizona’s first catastrophic cyclone
Hurricane Hilary is not the first major storm to strike Arizona.
In the past decade, three other hurricane remnants have poured record-breaking amounts of rain on the state. None of them were named cyclones, but they still caused widespread destruction.
Southern Arizona counties prepare for the possibility of flooding
This weekend, Hurricane Hilary is anticipated to impact portions of Arizona, primarily the southernmost counties, including Yuma, La Paz, and Pima.
According to the National Weather Service, the majority of the impact for southwestern Arizona will occur on Saturday and Sunday, with conditions “deteriorating” in Yuma and La Paz County.
Mohave County makes preparations for possible storms and inundation
The National Weather Service predicts that Kingman, Bullhead City, and Lake Havasu City will receive between one and two and a half inches of precipitation between Friday afternoon and Monday.
Friday, Bullhead City Mayor Steve D’Amico told residents, “Please be safe out there.” Please remain indoors if possible, don’t drive unless absolutely necessary, and don’t be fooled by brief periods of calm weather between storm pockets into thinking it’s safe to be outside.
In preparation for flash flooding, self-fill sandbag stations have been established throughout Mohave County, and the Bullhead City Fire Department will distribute up to 20 sandbags per residence on Friday.
While supplies last, residents of Mohave County can locate sandbags at the following locations:
- Fire Station 1: 96 Acoma Boulevard South (around the station’s north side by the generator)
- Station 2: 2065 Kiowa Boulevard North (parking lot on the west side, near the chain link fence).
- Fire Station 3 is located at 3620 Buena Vista Avenue (east side of the station by the garbage can).
- Station 4 is located at 3270 Paloverde Boulevard South (east side of the station by the garbage can).
- Fire Station 5: 145 Lake Havasu Avenue North (rear parking lot’s southeast corner).
Beginning at 2 p.m. Friday and continuing through 7 p.m. Saturday, up to ten sandbags per household will be available at the large Rotary Park Ramada at the intersection of Lakeside and Balboa drives.
Arizona precipitation estimates
As Hurricane Hilary approaches, the National Weather Service office in Phoenix estimated precipitation amounts for southwestern Arizona.
Flood warnings are already in effect from Saturday morning through Monday morning for southwestern Arizona and southeastern California, the weather service tweeted Friday afternoon.
“Rainfall amounts of 1 to 5 inches, with locally higher amounts, could cause widespread significant and localised catastrophic flooding in this region,” the tweet stated.
The weather service predicts that Yuma and Blythe will receive 2 to 3 inches of precipitation, while Gila Bend, Wickenburg, Sedona, and Prescott could receive up to an inch. Phoenix and Casa Grande could receive up to 0.5 inches of precipitation.
Yuma establishes a sandbag station for locals
Yuma will provide a self-service sandbag filling facility in the east parking lot of the Civic Centre, located at 1440 W. Desert Hills Drive, according to a statement released by the city on Thursday.
Through Sunday, individuals can fill sandbags from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Based on weather forecasts, the city will determine whether the station should remain open into next week.
While supplies last, the station will be stocked with sand and empty sacks for residents to self-fill sandbags. After 7 p.m., a limited quantity of bags and sand may be available.
Even though shovels may be available at the station, residents are advised to carry their own shovels when visiting the sandbag station. Per vehicle, residents are allotted five sandbags.
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The effects of the historic cyclone are already being felt. The National Weather Service is forecasting moderate to severe thunderstorms with the potential for local wind damage and flooding beginning on Friday. Thursday saw the onset of precipitation throughout the state due to an increase in moisture levels.
“Think of it as a more widespread monsoon event,” said Tom Frieders, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service. We anticipate multiple rounds of storms, particularly in the northwest regions of the state.
A flood watch for western Coconino County was issued early Friday morning and will remain in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday morning. For the counties of Mohave, La Paz, Yuma, Yavapai, and portions of Pima and Santa Cruz, flood watches are in effect until Monday at 5 p.m.
