Article Reflection No. 64 (8/19/2023)

Article: “Hurricane Hilary Weakens to Category 2 En Route to Mexico”

Reflection:

In The New York Times article “Hurricane Hilary Weakens to Category 2 En Route to Mexico”, meteorologist reporter Judson Jones details the path of the storm, which may bring “‘catastrophic’ flooding” to California’s southwest (par. 2). Although Hilary is expected to wane in intensity as it nears cooler waters and makes landfall, a tropical storm is still expected. Heavy rainfall and gusts of wind may lead to floods, which can damage communities through landslides or mudslides, according to Jones. This uncommon event is driven partly by climate change, he suggests. With air capable of holding moisture, more rain can follow, Jones writes.

I’ve been reading a lot—perhaps even too much—of articles about Hurricane Hilary. I learned that it is the first tropical storm to make landfall in 89 years. I learned that it has brought the first tropical storm watch in California history. I learned that one must always brace for natural disasters, whether that may be a blazing, blinding wildfire or torrential rain. The scale and frequency of natural disasters appears unprecedented, at least from what I have surveyed through news reports. Maui. Canada. Washington State. And now, Southern California.