Tropical Storm Hilary raced in from Mexico bringing warnings of potentially lifethreatening flooding in the typically arid southwestern United States . A magnitude earthquake hit near the southern California town of Ojai but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties .
Death Valley National Park was closed due to hazardous flood conditions . Hilary earlier reached Category the secondmost powerful on the fivestep SaffirSimpson hurricane scale but was downgraded to a tropical storm as it headed towards the densely populated Mexican border city of Tijuana .
The Mexican army opened shelters providing refuge to people affected by the storm . One person died in Mexico after a vehicle was swept away by a swollen river Mexicos Civil Protection agency said while warning of landslides and road closures in Baja California .
Some areas in Oregon and Idaho were also expected to see heavy rain and possible flash flooding the NHC said . Tornadoes were possible in southeast California and far southwest Utah it said . Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer rescheduled games planned for Sunday in the US region .
The storm is expected to be one of the worst storms to hit the state in more than a decade . California Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency for much of the states southern area as Hilary. California Governor Newsom opened five storm shelters and deployed more than personnel including several hundred National Guard soldiers as well as swift water rescue teams .
In San Diego people filled sandbags to prepare for the storm. The storm was described as ‘this is a very very dangerous and significant storm. This is a dangerous storm. It has been a very serious and significant Storm. It is a serious and very dangerous storm’s main storm”.
