The hurricane hit Mexico’s Baja California peninsula on Wednesday, where authorities prepared by opening shelters and closing some roads. As it heads north into cooler waters, it is expected to bend westward over the Pacific and weaken into a tropical storm or depression. It will begin moving off the coast of Southern California on Friday night, pushing intense moisture into the region. Through Saturday, heavy rain is expected across much of inland Southern California. Mountain communities and other burn-scarred areas should prepare for significant flash flooding. Beaches will also see big waves for surfers, with storm surge of 4-8 feet expected on Saturday. However, surfers and boaters are advised to use caution as beaches in the Orange County area may also see stormy showers. Rain will bring relief to Southern California after a prolonged, record-breaking heat wave that has lasted more than a week. Rain will drop temperatures in the area into the 80s and 90s. It is possible to bring 1-2 inches of rain to mountain communities by Friday night, leading to a good chance of flash flooding. Desert areas are also vulnerable, expecting about an inch of rain that could wash out some roads. Kai’s maximum sustained winds were 100 mph by midday Wednesday, with forecasters saying it could brush the middle part of the Baja Peninsula on Thursday or Friday. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami said Cay was centered about 205 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. Kay was moving north-northwest at 13 mph. Forecasters expected Kay to stay offshore as it moved further north, roughly parallel to the coast, was an extended storm, with tropical-type winds extending 230 miles (370 kilometers) from the center. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
