As Hurricane Hilary, a Category 4 storm, headed toward the Baja California Peninsula and the Southwestern United States on Friday, sandbags piled up on beaches in Los Cabos in Mexico and meteorologist predict a chance of heavy rain in California as early as Saturday. On Friday morning, Southern California was placed under its first tropical storm watch.
While it’s unclear where Hilary will make landfall, this severe weather could disrupt travel and affect flights this weekend, particularly through Los Cabos International Airport in San José del Cabo, Mexico. Here’s what travelers need to know.
Where is the storm headed?
As of Friday afternoon, Hurricane Hilary was moving north toward the Mexican peninsula with sustained winds of up to 145 miles per hour. The storm is expected to weaken over the next few days as it approaches the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula on Saturday, and Southern California on Sunday.
Currently, a hurricane watch is in effect for most of the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula.
Forecasters expect up to 10 inches of rain could fall through Sunday night across the peninsula. of Mexico national meteorological service said strong winds and hail are also possible, as well as possible landslides and flooding in low-lying areas. In the United States, the National Weather Service issued flood watches for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties in effect from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening.
What do airlines do?
Major carriers are waiving change fees for flights scheduled this weekend to or from Los Cabos Airport, with various restrictions. Changes are on American Airlines must be booked by August 20 and completed within one year. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines is eliminating fare differences for flights on or before August 23. And customers flying Southwest Airlines can rebook to fly within 14 days of their original travel date.
JetBlue Airways is offering rebooking for travelers with flights through August 22. Alaska AirlinesThe policy of allowing flight changes and cancellations free of charge also applies to Loreto Airport, on the east coast of Baja California Sur.
In the United States, Roland Nuñez, a National Weather Service aviation meteorologist, said in a video posted on Xthe social platform formerly known as Twitter, that he expects airports in Southern California to have “issues with heavy rain” that could trigger some “disruptions” in air traffic on Sunday and early of next week.
Air travelers should track their flight status using their airline’s website or app. Flightaware.coma flight-tracking service, also provides timely insight into delays and cancellations at domestic and international airports.
What precautions are local hotels taking?
Lilzi Orci, president of the Los Cabos Hotel Association, said each of the association’s 93 hotels has an “action plan” to keep guests safe, including a “certified area” to serve as a temporary shelter for guests . He said hotels are preparing for the storm by taking steps such as clearing lawns of debris, closing garden furniture and monitoring power regulators.
“We are in constant contact with the San José del Cabo International Airport to know the status of flights and to inform guests. In this way, we also prevent them from going out when their flight is canceled,” she said.
Hilton is waiving cancellation penalties through Aug. 23 at its properties in Baja California Sur, including the Beach and Golf Resort in Los Cabos and the Waldorf Astoria Pedregal, a hotel spokeswoman said.
Marriott International is also waiving cancellation fees for guests booked at its properties “in the path of Hurricane Hilary,” said Kerstin Sachl, a spokeswoman for the hotel brand.
How about the beaches?
said Ms. Orci said Mexican authorities have closed the ports and beaches in Los Cabos.
Over the next few days, the coast of southwestern Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula could see large waves “likely to cause life-threatening surf and break current conditions,” according to an advisory from in the National Weather Service in the United States.
A storm surge, accompanied by “damaging waves,” is likely to cause coastal flooding along the western Baja California Peninsula, the Weather Service said. Off the coast of Baja California Sur, these waves can rise up to 22 feet, Mexico’s meteorological service said.
Are there cruise ships sailing?
Two Carnival cruise ships, the shine and the Panorama, are scheduled to depart on separate voyages from Long Beach, Calif., to Mexico on Friday and Saturday. The cruise line said that while there are no current changes to itineraries, the company’s fleet operations center is monitoring the storm and its potential impact.
“We are continuing to monitor the storm and factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, US Coast Guard and local port authorities to provide timely updates to our guests as more information becomes available,” Carnival said. in a statement. “Based on the current forecast, it may be necessary to make changes to itineraries.”
Ceylan Yeginsu and Emiliano Rodríguez Mega contributed reporting.
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