Los Angeles, California has not seen a tropical storm in more than 80 years. Actually, the area is more accustomed to droughts. However, much of Southern California is under a state of emergency as tropical storm Hilary, now a post-tropical cyclone, made landfall and caused major flooding and damage.
Forecasters are calling for mountain and desert areas to see as much as 10 inches of rain—the same amount the deserts can see in an entire year.
Hilary hit Mexico’s Baja California peninsula on Sunday, August 20, 2023, causing flooding, washing away roads, and claiming one life. She is expected to move across Nevada today, August 21, 2023, and dissipate throughout the day.
Cruise ships on the west coast have altered their itineraries to keep crew and guests safe. Carnival’s Panorama, which sails from Long Beach year round, canceled her call to Mazatlan, Mexico.
Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas visited Ensenada, Mexico from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday making Sunday a sea day. Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess did port in Ensenada but did not allow anyone off the ship. The stop was necessary to fulfill legal requirements. Instead, the cruise ship returned to Los Angeles a day early on Sunday, August 20, 2023, giving guests the option of disembarking on Sunday or remaining on the ship until the original disembarkation day, Monday, August 21, 2023.
While no one likes to have their cruise disrupted, changed, or shortened, we do appreciate the effort of the cruise lines to always keep their guests safe. To all of you that have been or are in the path of this storm, stay safe.