Hurricane Hilary downgraded as Mexico and California brace for impact

Long Beach lifeguards fill up sandbags for residents ahead of Hurricane Hilary (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

Hurricane Hilary is roaring toward Mexico’s Baja California peninsula as a downgraded Category 2 hurricane that is still likely to bring “catastrophic” flooding to the region and cross into the southwest US as a tropical storm.

Meteorologists warned that despite the hurricane’s weakening, the storm’s speed had accelerated Saturday and remained treacherous.