Death Valley Flash Flooding Closes Roads After Near-Record Rainfall

DEATH VALLEY, CA — Furnace Creek in Death Valley — the hottest place in California — saw record rainfall Friday as nearly a year's worth of rain fell within three hours, officials said. The flash flooding caused by the rain event was catastrophic to the roadways, trapping nearly 1,000 staff and park visitors, according to reports from a National Park Service spokesperson.

State Route 190 was expected to remain closed this week and Death Valley National Park was also closed from the SR-136 junction to the SR-127 junction. All of the closed sections have been barricaded during the cleanup, according to Caltrans District 9 spokesperson Christopher Andriessen.

"Drivers should not attempt to get around any closure to access the park, as those roadways are not considered safe for driving conditions," Andriessen said.

On Friday afternoon, the hottest place on Earth became one of the wettest, and the mercury dipped, according to Accuweather. Temperatures that normally hover in the 100s dropped into the mid-60s during the torrential monsoon.

Friday's rainfall total at the park measured 1.46 inches. This was mere drops short of the all-time park record of 1.47 inches, according to Accuweather Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck. Rains in August typically account for just a tenth of that. The annual rainfall for the Death Valley Furnace Creek area is just under 2 inches a year.

The storm left debris, mud and rocks in its wake. Under triple-digit heat, Caltrans workers were using heavy equipment Monday to clear the roads.

"We are working to get the highway [SR-190] open," Andriessen said. "We have cleared a lot of the debris from the road, but there is more damage to uncover. Parts of the highway, the shoulder was washed away in places, though we have cleared a good chunk. There is still a lot of debris."

"What are the chances? You go to Death Valley and it rains," one park visitor shared on the National Park Service's Facebook page. He said he drove up to the debris flow, saw a stuck car, and was forced to turn around.

The aftermath of the flooding, as in the photo below, shows why ignoring barricades is not a good idea.

As of Monday, all people and cars that were stuck in Furnace Creek — both the campground and hotels — have been able to leave, according to Caltrans.

More rain is expected in the afternoons through Tuesday as monsoonal moisture sticks around, according to Accuweather reports.

If you are visiting the area, road conditions and closures can change rapidly, especially during monsoon season. Visit www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/conditions.htm prior to travel.