Hilary downgraded to Category 2 hurricane as Mexico and California brace for 'catastrophic' impact

Hurricane Hillary roared toward Mexico’s Baja California peninsula late Saturday as a downgraded but still dangerous Category 2 hurricane amid warnings by the U.S. National Weather Service that it threatened “catastrophic” flooding and likely will cross into the southwest U.S. as a tropical storm.

While it's still likely to enter the history books as the first tropical storm to hit southern California in 84 years, Hilary weakened from a Major Category 3 hurricane down to a Category 2 storm at midday Saturday and is expected to lose strength further as it treks northward.