As the city suffered from a record-breaking heatwave heat, Tropical Kay helped to ease the temperature and water the drought. Records showed Californians felt the hottest heatwave as state authorities scrambled for immediate power supply solutions.
AccuWeather said the rains from Tropical Storm Kay could amount to nearly a year's worth of rain in Southern California. From being Hurricane, Kay has gradually weakened into a tropical storm.
In previous weather report, the US-Mexico border experienced a heavy brunt of Tropical Kay, resulting in flash floods and small flooding. Cities nearby declared High Wind Watch and Flood Watch. Authorities warned residents to avoid roads that were being closed.
On the other hand, residents were dismayed over the threat of power interruption, and state officials and power manufacturers advised them to conserve electricity. California heeded the call for electric conservation.
Heavy rainfall
Tropical Storm Kay showed its power by unleashing heavy rainfall and winds on the US-Mexico border, causing small flooding and landslide.As of Monday, the weather is expected to improve in Baja California and Southern California.
In the AccuWeather report, Jesse Ferrell, senior weather editor and meteorologist, explained that Kay is the closest approach to Southern California in the last 50 years. It said Kay became the closest to pass the city of San Diego from the ocean since 1949.
On their official Facebook page, the U.S. Coast Guard San Diego shared that Tropical Storm Kay caused multiple vessels to break from anchorages at the Zuniga Jetty.
Furthermore, San Diego State University Professor Dr. Pat Abbott, in an interview with AccuWeather, explained that tropical storms don't typically reach California, and the heatwave there helped Kay to move closer.
He added that the cold water from Alaska drains storms and hurricane strength. Because of the heatwave, the ocean temperature reached above 80 degrees allowing Kay to move.
Kay rainfall is record-breaking with the amount of rain it delivered. AccuWeather noted that 0.63 of an inch of rain was measured on Friday, shattering the 0.09 of an inch record in 1976.
The Desert Research Institute's Western Regional Climate Center categorized the rainfall in San Diego as extreme. Kay furiously unleashed heavy rains on the farther side of California, with Mt. Laguna reaching 5.60 inches of rain.
Firefighting efforts
High Wind Watch was also on alert in Fairview Fire in Riverside County. The intense wind was not directly associated with the tropical storm. The wind can assist the heat, causing a damaging fire.
The Daily Mail U.K. reported that a wildfire outside Los Angles erupted. With Tropical Storm Kay's heavy rainfall, it managed to contain the fire at 40 percent as of Saturday. Reports said that the fire affected nearby residents, and they immediately evacuated. AccuWeather added that tropical Kay had prevented the fire from spreading quickly.
Trees with branches and power lines were down in several places in San Diego; California also suffered from a temporary power outage.
Related Article: Hurricane Kay Could Bring Heavy Rains and Floods to Southern California
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