Hilary downgraded to tropical storm before hitting California

The storm made landfall on Sunday in northern Mexico, en route to California. The National Weather Service said that even though Hilary was no longer a hurricane, millions of people in Los Angeles and San Diego were in danger from flooding, severe weather, and high wind alerts. Officials have warned residents of San Diego to expect winds of roughly 60 mph.

How common are tropical storms on the West Coast? The last one to hit the area was in 1939. That storm, known as the 1939 Long Beach Tropical Storm and “El Cordonazo,” was downgraded from a hurricane like Hilary. It was the only tropical storm to hit Southern California during the 20th century.

Dig deeper: Read Amy Lewis’ report in World Tour about how residents of New Zealand were still recovering two months after a devastating cyclone plowed through the country.