Mexico Warns of Hilary Hit on Baja

Mexico warned the western state of Baja California on Saturday to brace for what could be life-threatening rain and floods from Hurricane Hilary, the Pacific storm barreling toward the peninsula and neighboring Southern California.

State and federal authorities urged citizens to take precautions ahead of the storm, which was expected to make landfall early Sunday. Although Hilary weakened somewhat on Saturday, officials warned it remained lethally destructive.

More than 6,500 soldiers were deployed Friday to the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur to help erect shelters, organize food banks and prepare for possible emergency rescues.

Libia González, a meteorologist with Mexico’s national forecasting service, said that the storm would gradually decrease in strength and was expected to become a Category 1 by Sunday morning.

“But this does not mean that the danger will diminish,” she said. “It will continue to be a hurricane,” causing very strong winds and large swells of up to 32 feet.

“What we want to convey to the public is not to lower their guard,” she…