What role did the climate crisis play in Storm Hilary – and could there be more like it?

Such storms landing on California are extremely rare - but experts say they could become more common as the ocean heats up

As Storm Hilary continues to batter California and the US south-west, questions loom about what role the climate crisis played in supercharging the storm and whether there could be more like it in the future.

After a year of weather extremes in California and the US west - including record-breaking winter rain and snowfall and punishing summer heatwaves - the tropical cyclone's appearance in the region remains extraordinary.