NEWS: Disneyland Announces Early Closure Tomorrow Due to Hurricane Hilary

We’ve been closely monitoring weather conditions in the California area this week as Hurricane Hilary moves toward California.

In the past, we’ve seen the Disney parks close in the event of hurricanes and severe weather. In 2022, Disney World temporarily closed due to Hurricane Ian. Now, it seems like Hurricane Hilary may impact daily park operations in Disneyland Resort.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds are predicted to hit California. If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland (or anywhere along the southwestern part of the US), you might need to be aware of a serious potential weather event.

In response to the latest updates on Hurricane Hilary, the Disneyland website was updated with a message reading, in part, “Disneyland Resort theme parks will close early tomorrow, Sunday August 20th, with Disney California Adventure Park closing at 9PM and Disneyland Park closing at 10PM.” You can see the full statement below.

Disney noted that Downtown Disney will close at 11PM, and the Disneyland resort hotels will remain open to guests staying on property.

Disney has also started notifying guests on the Disneyland app.

UPDATE: As of August 20th, Hurricane Hilary has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. It is expected to weaken to a tropical storm before reaching Southern California, according to the New York Times. It is still expected to produce heavy rain and flooding in California.

The National Weather Service issued a warning to California residents about dangerous weather conditions and the possibility of flash floods. Currently, Hurricane Hilary is classified as a Category 2 storm, according to CNN.

Dangerous flooding is possible with an influx of moisture from #HurricaneHilary moving over California. The risk of flooded and impassable roads will continue to increase, making travel difficult and unsafe. Safety and awareness are key. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/pfWBTdfRvK

— NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) August 20, 2023

CNN reports that Hurricane Hilary “is expected to bring ‘catastrophic and life-threatening flooding’ to Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States.” Looking at the most recent predictions from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Hilary is expected to continue north through the weekend.

The National Hurricane Center‘s latest update warns that there is the potential for a historic amount of rainfall in the southwestern U.S. Additionally, they stated that “Dangerous to locally catastrophic flooding impacts are expected late [August 19th] through early Monday.” You can see the full message below.

The storm was weakened to a Category 2 storm Saturday evening, though many are expecting strong wind and heavy rain in the coming days. Per The Weather Channel, a tropical storm warning is in effect for Anaheim (where Disneyland Resort is located) and other areas, including Santa Ana, Irvine, and Fullerton.

We’re LIVE all day and night keeping you informed on #Hilary!

Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding is likely for Baja California and parts of the southwestern U.S. into tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/4gVvbkSmHF

— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) August 20, 2023

 

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on August 19th for several parts of California, including Orange County, where Disneyland is located.

Just left the San Diego Emergency Operations Center — meeting with @MayorToddGloria as California prepares for #HurricaneHilary.

Southern California: Make sure to stay safe and listen to local official warnings. pic.twitter.com/gOdDqvTZG4

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 19, 2023

 

If you are planning to visit Disneyland in the near future, stay safe and listen to local official warnings. Continue to visit the Disneyland website for further developments, as the situation is subject to change and park hours may be modified.

 

We’ll continue to look for updates on the situation, so stay tuned for the latest news.

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