The Wrath of Hilary: Swift Escalation to a Category 4 Hurricane

by Mateo Gonzalez
5 comments
Hurricane Hilary

A satellite snapshot of Hurricane Hilary, taken on August 18, 2023, by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard NOAA-20, reveals the storm’s proximity to the Baja California peninsula. Hilary, now a Category 4 hurricane, is forecasted to deliver significant rainfall to Southern California, and warnings are in place in both Mexico and sections of the U.S.

Though initially predicted to lose strength before hitting Mexico and Southern California with heavy rainfall, the hurricane continues to be a major threat.

On August 18, 2023, Hurricane Hilary, classified as a category 4 storm in the Pacific Ocean, neared the Baja California peninsula.

Captured in the early hours of August 18 (09:25 Universal Time) by VIIRS on NOAA-20, the image of the hurricane’s eye was approximately 400 miles (640 kilometers) from the peninsula’s coast. The infrared brightness temperature data illustrated in the image helps differentiate the cooler cloud formations (in white and blue) from the warmer surfaces beneath (in yellow). Typically, the coldest temperatures correspond to the highest clouds.

Hilary’s Formation and Projected Route

Hilary’s maximum sustained winds were close to 145 miles (230 kilometers) per hour as of 9 a.m. Mountain Time (15:00 Universal Time) on August 18, per the National Hurricane Center. This puts it in the category 4 classification on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale. The storm originally formed as a tropical disturbance near Manzanillo, Mexico, on August 16, and rapidly intensified into a powerful category 4 hurricane between August 17 and August 18.

The National Hurricane Center anticipates that Hilary will head north-northwest, lose some power before reaching the peninsula’s center by August 19 evening, and then proceed inland over Southern California. Cities such as San Diego and Los Angeles are projected to experience heavy rain by August 20 evening. NASA’s Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT) has noted that this heavy rain could oversaturate soil in the affected regions for several days post-storm.

Alerts and Safety Measures

The Mexican Government has declared a hurricane warning for the Baja California peninsula, covering the area from Punta Abreojos to Punta Eugenia. A tropical storm watch has been issued for parts of Southern California, including San Diego up to Huntington Beach, by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. This marks the first time such a watch has been announced for this region.

The NASA Earth Observatory image was created by Lauren Dauphin, using VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hurricane Hilary

What is Hurricane Hilary, and when was it captured on satellite?

Hurricane Hilary is a Category 4 storm in the Pacific Ocean that was captured on satellite by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on NOAA-20 on August 18, 2023.

Where is Hurricane Hilary predicted to make landfall?

Hilary is predicted to reach the center of the Baja California peninsula by the evening of August 19, 2023, and then move inland over Southern California by the evening of August 20.

What warnings have been issued for Hurricane Hilary?

The Government of Mexico has issued a hurricane warning for the Baja California peninsula, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm watch for parts of Southern California, including San Diego and north up to Huntington Beach.

What effects are expected from Hurricane Hilary in Southern California?

Heavy rain is forecasted for cities such as San Diego and Los Angeles, and scientists at NASA’s Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT) expect the heavy rain to saturate soils in the region for several days after the storm.

How did Hurricane Hilary develop and intensify?

Hilary formed as a tropical storm off the coast of Manzanillo, Mexico, on August 16, 2023. Between August 17 and August 18, it quickly intensified from a tropical storm to a forceful category 4 hurricane.

What technology was used to capture the image of Hurricane Hilary?

The image of Hilary was acquired by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-20 satellite, showing infrared brightness temperature data to distinguish cooler cloud structures from warmer surfaces below.

More about Hurricane Hilary

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5 comments

TomR August 19, 2023 - 8:59 pm

Great analysis, but could you explain more about the technology used, like VIIRS? I’m interested to know more about how they track these storms.

Reply
Mike Watherfan August 20, 2023 - 9:22 am

Cant believe how quickly Hilary turned into a cat 4! stay safe everyone in the affected areas

Reply
Sarah J August 20, 2023 - 10:56 am

wow, these hurricanes are getting more and more unpredictable. thanks for the info, keep us updated!

Reply
JennyfromCali August 20, 2023 - 2:40 pm

living in Southern California and this is really scaring me. first time a watch was issued for our region. does anyone know if San Diego will be hit hard?

Reply
Greg_92 August 20, 2023 - 5:16 pm

What’s happening to our climate? Its just crazy how fast these storms are forming and intensifying; something has to be done.

Reply

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