Category 4 Hurricane Hilary Headed For Disneyland, 'Significant' Impacts Possible

Hurricane Hilary is now a Category 4 and is headed straight for California.

The National Hurricane Center is now warning residents that the storm could bring "significant" impacts to Southern California and the Southwest by the weekend and into the first part of next week.

According to Fox News, Hurricane Hilary intensified into a Category 4 storm on Friday morning. Forecasters are predicting that the hurricane's path could bring "significant" impacts to Southern California and the Southwest by the weekend, and could continue into the first part of next week.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), "rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone's maximum sustained winds increase by at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period."

"Rainfall impacts from Hilary within the Southwestern United States are expected to peak this weekend into Monday," the NHC said in an advisory. "Flash, urban and arroyo flooding is possible with the potential for significant impacts."

Due to the ocean water's cool temperatures off the coast of California, the intensity of Hurricane Hilary should diminish should the forecast track brings the storm to California.

Forecasters continue to keep an eye on the "abundant tropical moisture" which could be flowing into California, Nevada and Arizona.

At the time of publication, Hurricane Hilary is located about 400 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and is moving to the west-northwest at 13 mph. Its maximum sustained winds are tracking at 145 mph.

The forecast does show the storm weakening prior to it making landfall.

At this time, Disneyland, which is located in Anaheim, California, is not in the direct path of Hurricane Hilary, however, the theme park could still see the outer bands of the storm, meaning rainfall and winds could be felt at Disneyland over the weekend.

NBC4 Los Angeles meteorologist Belen De Leon did release a statement on the Hurricane's path, explaining, “We’re tracking what could be the remnants of a tropical storm that could bring some rain, especially Sunday into Monday. It’s going to become a major hurricane, but as it approaches the southwestern part of the United States it’s going to weaken into a tropical storm. The winds are not going to be as strong, but it’s still going to pack a punch.”

“There’s a possibility for several inches of rain in Southern California,” De Leon said.

Additionally, the storm's path could change at any time, meaning Hurricane Hilary could potentially affect Disneyland more if it goes off track.

It is not common for Disneyland to close due to a hurricane as it’s been over 150 years since a Category 1 storm made landfall in Southern California, when a hurricane is believed to have hit San Diego in 1858.

Disney World, on the other hand, is used to Hurricanes as Florida has been hit with some severe storms within the past few years. With that being said, Walt Disney World has only had to close six times due to hurricanes since opening in 1971:

• Hurricane Floyd – 1999
• Hurricane Charlie – 2004
• Hurricane Francis – 2004
• Hurricane Jeanne – 2004
• Hurricane Matthew – 2016
• Hurricane Irma – 2017
• Hurricane Dorian – 2019

At this time, Disneyland has not announced any closures or any statements regarding Hurricane Hilary.