Tropical Storm Franklin makes landfall with major flood threats to Dominican Republic and Haiti

Tropical Storm Franklin brings torrential rain to Dominican Republic and Haiti on Wednesday

Crews work to clear mud and debris from California roads after Storm Hilary

Tropical Storm Franklin was moving inland from the southern coast of the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, bringing torrential rains to the country and neighboring Haiti.

Tropical Storm Harold, which had formed only hours before Franklin, was downgraded to a depression after making landfall in south Texas on Tuesday. The system has since crossed into northern Mexico where it was threatening the region with heavy rains.

The cyclones, which scientists say are being supercharged by the impacts of the climate crisis, are part of a record-breaking pattern unfolding in the Atlantic.

Aside from Harold and Franklin, two other systems formed in the Atlantic - Emily and Gert - in 39 hours, making it the fastest time on record for four named Atlantic storm formations, according to Philip Klotzbach, a Colorado State University Meteorologist.

This weekend, Tropical Storm Hilary wreaked havoc across Mexico, California and Nevada. Hilary, which caused one death in Mexico, was the first tropical storm to hit California in almost a century and deluged cities including Los Angeles and San Diego, leading to widespread flooding and mudslides.

Key points

• Storm Hilary brings a year’s worth of rain to Death Valley
• Storm Hilary to batter Oregon and Idaho after flooding California
• Texas braces for flooding as Tropical Storm Harold barrels towards state
• Rescuers drive bulldozer through mud to reach senior citizens stuck in California care home

[22 August 2023 12:30 · Stuti Mishra]

Ted Cruz falls for Storm Hilary flooded shark hoax

Senator Ted Cruz appears to have been tricked into believing that a fake image of a shark swimming through floodwaters on a Los Angeles freeway was real.

The city of LA and wider parts of Southern California have been pounded by heavy rain and flash flooding brought by Storm Hilary – the region’s first tropical storm since 1939.

Amid the chaos, the shark hoax – which is a longtime fake meme used during almost every natural disaster – was shared on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, by user Big Cat of Barstool.

[22 August 2023 13:00 · AP]

First tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years

The first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, Hilary dropped more than half an average year’s worth of rain on some areas, including Palm Springs, which saw more than 3 inches (8 centimeters) of rain by Sunday evening.

In September 1939, a tropical storm that roared into California ripped apart train tracks, tore houses from their foundations and capsized many boats, killing nearly 100 people on land and at sea.

[22 August 2023 13:30 · Gustaf Kilander]

VIDEO: Tropical Storm Hilary forces school closures

[22 August 2023 13:44 · Rachel Sharp]

Texas braces for flooding as Tropical Storm Harold barrels towards state

Texas is preparing for flash flooding, strong winds and dangerous weather conditions including possible tornadoes, as Tropical Storm Harold barrels towards the south central state.

The low pressure system known as Tropical Depression Nine – which formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday afternoon – has now strengthened and developed into Tropical Storm Harold, an extreme weather event expected to cause heavy rain and high-force winds on Tuesday.

As recorded by the National Hurricane Center, Harold had already whipped up 45mph winds by 1am CDT, with 39mph winds being classifed as a tropical storm.

Read the full story:

[22 August 2023 14:00 · Ap]

‘Continued life-threatening and locally catastrophic flooding’ expected

The National Hurricane Center in Miami downgraded Hilary to a post-tropical storm in its early Monday advisory, but warned that “continued life-threatening and locally catastrophic flooding” was expected over portions of the southwestern U.S. on Monday. All coastal warnings were discontinued.

Forecasters warned of dangerous flash floods across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, and fire officials rescued 13 people from knee-deep water in a homeless encampment along the rising San Diego River. Meanwhile, rain and debris washed out some roadways and people left their cars stranded in standing water. Crews pumped floodwaters out of the emergency room at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage.

[22 August 2023 14:20 · Rachel Sharp]

Burning Man tells festival-goers to delay arrival due to Storm Hilary

Burning Man has told festival-goers to delay their arrival due to Storm Hilary.

The festival takes place in the Nevada desert with the site being flooded by the extreme weather this week.

In the latest update posted on social media, the festival said: “The gate will remain closed until at least noon PT on Tuesday 8/22.

“If you were planning to travel to BRC with a Work Access Pass, delay your plans. DO NOT drive to Gerlach. We will post another update by 10am PT Tuesday 8/22. Stay safe!”

[22 August 2023 14:41 · Louise Boyle]

Tropical Storm Harold heads for Texas

Satellites have captured Tropical Storm Harold as it moves towards southern Texas on Tuesday morning.

Forecasters have issued tropical storm warnings due to heavy rains and strong winds.

[22 August 2023 15:03 · Louise Boyle]

Hilary downgraded... but risks remain

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tropical Storm Hilary had lost much of its force as it headed to the Rocky Mountains on Tuesday but warned that “continued life-threatening and locally catastrophic flooding” was expected in parts of the region.

Associated Press

[22 August 2023 15:20 · Louise Boyle]

Southern Texas and northern Mexico flood warnings

Tropical Storm Harold is set to bring flash flooding across South Texas through early Wednesday, and may produce areas of flash flooding, the National Weather Service reported.

Across portions of northern Coahuila and northern Nuevo Leon in Mexico, flash flooding with possible landslides in mountainous terrain is expected Tuesday through Wednesday.

[22 August 2023 15:42 · Louise Boyle]

Power goes down at major Los Angeles hospital

A major hospital in Los Angeles was evacuated overnight on Tuesday after a power outage in the wake of Tropical Storm Hilary.

White Memorial Hospital in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of the city went dark just before midnight on Monday and immediately began evacuating critical and non-critical patients.

LA Fire Department helped medical staff get patients down the stairs as the elevators were also out of service.

Fire officials told FOX11 a baby was delivered by flashlight during the evacuation and that both the newborn and mother were in good condition.