It doesn’t happen often, but for the first time in a quarter-century weather watchers and experts are bracing for the possibility of an August tropical storm hitting Southern California over the weekend. Hurricane Hilary, which developed into a substantial category four storm as it made its way toward the Baja peninsula, may have California in its sights. Although the system is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reaches Southern California and the Southwest, it still carries the potential of heavy rain, stiff winds, not to mention high tides, rip currents, and coastal erosion. As…