County Supervisors declare emergency as Hilary heads to San Diego

By Miriam Raftery

August 19, 2023 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego tonight issued an emergency declaration to deploy all available resources, following a state emergency declaration earlier today. Now a category one hurricane, Hilary is still on track to hit San Diego as a tropical storm Sunday in the late afternoon and early evening.

A flood watch and tropical storm warning are now in effect for all of San Diego County. A tropical storm, also known as a tropical cyclone, has sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour; a hurricane has sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. 

The danger has prompted cancellation of everything from airline flights to a Padre game on Sunday, as well as closures of parks and beaches across the region.

Airlines have cancelled 73 flights Sunday that were scheduled at San Diego International airport, according to the tracking site  FlightAware.