Weakening Storm Hilary leaves floods and mud behind in California

Damage from rare tropical storm is less than feared, but experts warn of further danger as it heads to Nevada and Oregon

Vast swaths of the US south-west are reeling after Tropical Storm Hilary pummeled the region with historic amounts of rain and strong winds, even as the storm weakened on its path northward on Monday.

The rare tempest left downed trees, flooded streets, and cascades of mud and debris in its wake after slamming into the US west coast on Sunday. In California, the storm had largely cleared by Monday afternoon, and officials celebrated that damage had been less severe than feared.