Rescue crews dig towns out of the mud as Tropical Storm Hilary weakens

Crews worked to dig roads, buildings and care home residents out of the mud across a wide swathe of south-western US desert as the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years headed north (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Crews worked to dig roads, buildings and care home residents out of the mud across a wide swathe of south-western US desert as the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years headed north, prompting flood watches and warnings in half a dozen states.

The National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Tropical Storm Hilary had lost much of its force as it headed to the Rocky Mountains, but warned that “continued life-threatening and locally catastrophic flooding” is expected in parts of the region.