Hurricane Hilary intensifies as it heads toward Southern California

MANY PEOPLE WE TALKED WITH SAID THEY’RE KEEPING HOPE ALIVE UNTIL THEY GET CONFIRMATION, THEY WILL KEEP HOPE. >> WE ARE HOPING AS WELL. THANK YOU, ELIZABETH. >>> A SEVERE TROPICAL STORM IS MAKING HIS WAY TO THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. OUR METEOROLOGIST FROM OUR PARTNERSTHAT THE WEATHER CHANNEL HAS THE LATEST. >> Reporter: GOOD DAY TO YOU. WE HAVE HURRICANE HILARY CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN WITH THE WIND AT 85 MILES AN HOUR. IT IS BEEN RAPIDLY STRENGTHENING AND WE EXPECT THAT TREND WILL CONTINUE. IT IS CAT 1 RIGHT NOW BUT EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT 24

HOURS. WE WILL SEE IT INTENSIFY AND WE EXPECT IT TO BE A MAJOR HURRICANE ON OUR HANDS. IS LOCATED PRETTY FAR OFFSHORE RIGHT NOW AND PRETTY FAR AWAY BUT LOOKING AT THE PROTECTIVE PATH KNOWING THE IMPACT WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE CONE ALWAYS. WE MUST WATCH THE WAVES AND RAIN INTO THE BAJA, CALIFORNIA OVER THE NEXT 36 TO 48 HOURS. WE BRING IN THE RAIN INTO CALIFORNIA. EVEN IF THIS IS NOT WELL ORGANIZED TROPICAL SYSTEM, IT WILL BE BRINGING MORE STRAIN HEAVY RAIN IS BIG CONCERN. 3 TO 5 INCHES COULD EASILY FALL ARE PERHAPS HIGHER

AMOUNTS WITH A POTENTIAL OF FLOODING. GUSTING WIND DEPENDING ON THE TRACK COULD BE A FACTOR AS WELL. THAT SUNDAY INTO MONDAY TIME FRAME. THIS IS HAPPENIG BECAUSE THAT RIDGE

OF HIGH PRESSURE WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING FOR DAYS ACROSS THE WEST WILL SHIFT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY. THAT WILL BRING THE HEAT AND POTENTIAL RECORD EIGHT ACROSS THE PLAINS. THAT WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE IN ALLOWI