Tropical Storm Hilary, the first storm of this magnitude to hit California in over 70 years, inundated the southern portion of the state, spanning from the coastal areas to the desert resort town of Palm Springs. 

This prompted rescue efforts to retrieve several individuals stranded in overflowing rivers. 

Storm Hilary, which the National Hurricane Center in Miami has downgraded from hurricane, flooded streets and tore down power lines across Southern California and further into the Southwest after thrashing the region with record-breaking downpours.

However, no deaths have been reported.

Nonetheless, the National Hurricane Center has issued a warning about the persistent threat of locally catastrophic flooding across parts of the southwestern United States. They also anticipated “record-breaking” rainfall and the potential for flooding in states as far north as Oregon and Idaho.

The remnants of this storm, which initially brought heavy rains to Mexico’s arid Baja California Peninsula and the border city of Tijuana, were projected to linger at least until Tuesday morning. Remnants of Hilary can be expected to hit Nevada and Utah, where more than 4 million people are still cautioned to be careful of flash flooding until Monday night. 

A stretch of the I-10 freeway near Palm Springs was also shut to traffic due to pooling water from the storm, leaving Southern Californians to battling flooded side streets, fallen trees, and mudslides. Many of the roads in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, which are known to be winding and dangerous at the best of times, were blocked by mud and debris.

Gas prices are also raging out of control as the storm causes chaos.

The average price of gas rose $0.11 just last week, hiking the overall price to $5.26 per gallon, the highest level of the year for the nation’s most expensive state.