A new tropical cyclone named HILARY formed over the Eastern Pacific Ocean far off the coast of southern Mexico on 16 August and started moving north-west toward the Baja California Peninsula. On 18 August at 6.00 UTC, its centre was located over the Ocean approximately 650 km south of Cabo San Lucas City (far southern Baja California Peninsula), with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (Category 3 Hurricane).

On the forecast track, HILARY is forecast to continue moving northwestward over the Ocean and it is expected to pass very close to the northern Baja California Sur State (near Puerto Escondido City) on 20 August in the morning (UTC), with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h (Category 1 Hurricane).

On 19-21 August, heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surges are forecast over the Baja California Peninsula and southern California (USA). NOAA has issued a Hurricane Watch for most of the Baja California Sur State and a Tropical Storm Warning for the rest of the peninsula.