Bay Area may experience rainfall as Hurricane Hilary remnants approach.

Remnants of Hurricane Hilary, which was observed spinning off Mexico’s western coast as of Thursday, have the potential to bring rainfall to the Bay Area in the early days of next week, according to weather officials.

On Thursday, the Bay Area office of the National Weather Service (NWS Bay Area) stated that it is still premature to determine the extent of Hilary’s impact on the region.

“While Hilary is likely to weaken while approaching southern California early next week,” remarked NWS Bay Area, “rainfall could affect certain areas within our vicinity, although this is contingent upon Hilary’s trajectory. It is imperative to stay updated with any changes in the forecast.”

Hilary is projected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane off the western coast of Mexico, following its categorization as a tropical storm. The remnants of Hilary are expected to bring showers at some point next week, but the specifics cannot be ascertained with certainty at this early stage. NWS Bay Area advised the public to remain vigilant regarding further revisions to the forecast.

As of Thursday, Hilary has been characterized as a Category 2 hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific coast. With maximum winds reaching 105 mph, it is possible that the hurricane could graze the coast of the Baja California peninsula this weekend, as reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Currently situated approximately 500 miles south-southeast of Los Cabos, located at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula, Hilary remains distant from land. It is moving in a west-northwest direction at a speed of 14 mph, but is anticipated to make a more northerly turn toward the U.S. border.

The forecast suggests that Hilary could develop into a major hurricane by Friday, potentially brushing the sparsely populated western edge of the Baja coast. The hurricane center has indicated that it may maintain tropical storm strength for a short period and eventually cross the U.S. border.

According to the National Weather Service, Southern California has not experienced a landfall by a tropical storm since September 25, 1939.

The hurricane center stated in a report that the impact of rainfall from Hilary within the Southwestern United States is expected to peak from this weekend up until Monday. This weather system brings with it the possibility of flash floods, urban floods, and arroyo flooding, with potential significant consequences.

Areas that may be affected by heavy rainfall include the stretch between San Diego, California, and Yuma, Arizona. Moreover, a broader region extending from Bakersfield, California, to Tucson, Arizona, could also witness precipitation.

The Los Angeles weather office has projected an outlook for excessive rainfall in Southern California spanning from Sunday to Tuesday.

UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain emphasized during a recent online briefing that while the odds are against Hilary making landfall in California as a tropical storm, the likelihood of substantial rain and flood impacts remains high.

For the most up-to-date forecasts and updates, it is recommended to visit NBC Bay Area’s weather page.