In Rare Event, Hurricane Forecast to Bring Significant Flooding Threat for Southern California and Desert Southwest Tomorrow and Saturday

The National Weather Service reports there is increasing confidence of a significant flood threat for southern California and the Desert Southwest on Friday and Saturday from what is by then expected to be the remnants of Hurricane Kay.

According to the National Hurricane Center, heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Kay is likely to cause flash, urban, and small stream flooding across southern California beginning Friday, especially in and near the peninsular ranges. Some parts are forecast to receive 2 to 4 inches of rain; some areas may experience up to 6 inches. Flash, urban, and small stream flooding is possible beginning Friday in Southwest Arizona and southern Nevada. Some parts there are expected to get 1 to 2 inches, with some areas receiving up to 3 inches. In addition, the National Hurricane Center reports coastal flooding is possible, especially at high tides.

Kay is the latest extreme weather event for California, which for about the past week has been experiencing a historic heat wave. The moisture from Kay will break the heat wave. But prior to the moisture’s arrival, strengthening east winds on Friday morning will lead to increasing fire danger. As of this morning, Kay was a category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. It was located over the western side of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula and moving northwest. It is weakening and expected to bend away from the U.S., where it is not anticipated to make landfall. Kay is not the first tropical system to affect California, but such occurrences in the state are fairly rare. They typically originate from the remnants of tropical storms and hurricanes, as is the case with Kay, rather than direct strikes.

Read more at the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service, and the Washington Post.