'Hilary' hits Mexico, Cali with heavy rains

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico: Hurricane "Hilary" brought heavy rains Saturday to portions of Mexico's Baja California peninsula and the southwestern United States, as officials warned the powerful storm was likely to cause "catastrophic and life-threatening" flooding.

The storm had weakened Saturday from a powerful Category 4 to Category 2 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale — but it was still deemed capable of "extensive damage," and hurricane conditions were expected to continue along the Baja California coast through Sunday morning, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.