DURING California’s historic drought, a two-day rainstorm in the southern and central regions brought flash floods, thunder and lightning along the state’s dried-up beaches, and forced authorities to close a 70-mile stretch over the weekend.
The rare weekend downpour that calmed forest wildfires also washed away a 30-foot bridge that carries commuters to Arizona.
An elevated area on Interstate 10 collapsed early Sunday evening, July 19, near Southeastern California’s Desert Center, leaving a pickup truck trapped underneath. Firefighters launched a cut and rescue operation and the driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries, according to authorities. California Highway Patrol also stopped cars near Joshua Tree National Park, a roadway from Palm Springs to the Arizona border, leaving drivers stranded for miles.
“We are so stuck out here,” said Pamala Browne to the Associated Press on Sunday evening. “There’s no end to the cars that are stuck out here.”
Over the weekend, beachgoers were warned about strong surf and rip currents. Swimmers were urged to steer clear of storm drainage flowing in the sea.
Many Southern California residents were without power on Sunday afternoon.
Outdoor concerts were canceled, and the San Diego Padres were forced to postpone Sunday’s game. The Los Angeles Angels had its first rainout in two decades.
By Sunday evening, the rainstorm had caused a debris flow that trapped several residents in Silverado Canyon near the Santa Ana Mountains.
“We had a pretty significant mud and debris flow that went into the creek and then across Silverado Canyon Road, making the road impassable,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi told the Los Angeles Times.
“We had a 1,000-acre brush fire back in September, so we have a pretty large burn scar,” he added. “So when we do have significant rain, that mud and debris come downhill toward the road, toward homes.”
No homes were in danger, Concialdi confirmed.
The rainfall broke records in at least 11 areas, including Los Angeles and San Diego, for July—typically considered Southern California’s driest month.
“It looks like there’s a good chance the monthly record is going to go up,” National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Sirard said. “Really, this is super historic.”
On Saturday, July 18, Los Angeles got 0.36 inches of rain, beating its record on July 14, 1886, when it got 0.24 inches, Sirard said.
National Weather Service forecaster David Sweet said that LA, in particular, is feeling the aftereffects of tropical storm Dolores.
The weekend downpour did help contain several California wildfires, including a 3,500-acre blaze Friday that crawled through Cajon Pass and across Interstate 15, causing several cars to burn and commuters to flee from their vehicles. The flames destroyed 20 cars before 40 mile an hour winds carried it to the nearby community of Baldy Mesa, where it torched seven homes and 44 more vehicles, authorities said.
“People were screaming,” said Russell Allevato, who was visiting the area from Michigan. “It was just crazy.”
“We were surrounded by flames,” he continued. “They were to the left, then in front of us and they came around to the right. We were in a big horseshoe in the middle.”
Firefighters worked to beat the blaze as light rain help them to gain ground, and two people suffered minor smoke inhalation, officials said.
“It’s pretty much burnt desert,” Keishawna Williams added.
US Forest Service spokeswoman Lyn Sieliet told the Los Angeles Times the rainstorm could become “a blessing or curse” as fire remnants continue to smolder throughout the region.
“If it brings wind and lightning, it could make things more difficult for us,” she said. “But if it brings light, steady rain, that’s going to be the best-case scenario.”
Officials said the heavy showers were expected to continue through the early week.
(With reports from the Associated Press, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, CBS)
