Los Angeles Weather

Flash Flooding Hits Palm Springs

WHITEWATER, Calif. Storm cells that unleashed flash flooding in Palm Springs today continued to wreak havoc as they marched northwest across the San Gorgonio Pass region and into the mountains, authorities said.

"Whitewater Canyon Road is washed out completely, I'm told," said Investigator Matt Diaz, a spokesman for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. "We were out there to assist the Highway Patrol. It's the north end, north of Interstate 10."

Mud and rocks flowed up to four feet deep out of Big Morongo Wash this morning in at least one location on Indian Avenue in Desert Hot Springs, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The sudden rains in mountain watersheds just before 9 a.m. sent flash flood waters and mud roaring out of rock-filled Whitewater Canyon. Mission Creek also erupted in Desert Hot Springs and North Palm Springs, according to the National Weather Service and a Highway Patrol dispatcher in Indio.

Diaz said he was aware of unconfirmed reports that several cars were swept off roadways by flood waters and possible debris, but he did not have further details.

Riverside County road workers, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and Highway Patrol officers responded to Indian Avenue and Dillon Road, where a flash flood that included mud was reported, a CHP dispatcher said.

Indian Avenue was closed between Mission Lakes Boulevard and Pierson Boulevard, where Mission Creek spewed mud, rocks and debris after storm cells moved across the Coachella Valley and unloaded sudden, intense rains for 30 minutes to one hour, according to the CHP and the National Weather Service.

Mud, dirt and rock slide conditions were also reported further south in the mountains on Highway 74 near Vista Point, in the winding curves above Palm Desert, according to the CHP.

In Palm Springs, where firefighters rescued at least one motorist from the rain-swollen wash below Tahquitz Canyon, most flooding was water-related and did not include mud, rocks or debris flows, said Palm Springs Fire Capt. Jim Webb.

But elsewhere, including Whitewater Canyon north of Interstate 10, heavy rains in mountain watersheds mobilized tons of rocks and boulders, which tore out at least one road crossing and damaged roads in the North Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs area, according to sheriff's, weather and CHP officials.

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