Hilary becomes a hurricane, continues track toward California

    

     Hilary intensified from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane in the Pacific on Thursday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Satellite and radar show the storm continues to be on a track to reach Southern California later this weekend as a tropical storm or possibly stronger. 

“I’m not saying this will be a Category 1 Hurricane, but it’s going to be awfully close when it arrives in Southern California on late Sunday into Monday,” KTLA meteorologist Henry DiCarlo said.

A Category 1 hurricane reaching Southern California would be extremely rare. A hurricane is believed to have hit the San Diego area in 1858.

Tropical storm watches were issued Thursday for the southern portion of Baja California Sur, the Hurricane Center stated in its forecast.

Hilary is forecast to reach Category 3 status at some point Saturday before likely arriving in Southern California as a tropical storm late Sunday or Monday.