FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
341 PM THU SEP 5 2013
..A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6:15 PM PDT FOR CENTRAL RIVERSIDE COUNTY...
AT 336 PM PDT, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED FLOODING ON ROADWAYS IN THE WARNED AREA. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUES TO INDICATE FLASH FLOODING FROM STORMS OVER THE WARNED AREA.
LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO IDYLLWILD, PINE COVE, PALM DESERT, RANCHO MIRAGE AND PALM SPRINGS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
WATERSHEDS BURNED IN 2013 WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN BURN AREA ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLASH FLOODS AND DEBRIS FLOWS FROM THIS RAINSTORM. DWELLINGS...ROADS...TRAILS...AND CAMPGROUNDS LOCATED ALONG DRAINAGES WITHIN OR BELOW THE BURNED BASINS CAN BE IMPACTED BY FLASH FLOODS AND DEBRIS FLOWS.
THIS INCLUDES...BUT IS NOT RESTRICTED TO... ALL DWELLINGS...ROADS...CAMPGROUNDS...AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN LOW LYING AREAS OF TAQHUITZ CREEK...ANDREAS CANYON...MURRAY CANYON...WEST FORK PALM CANYON...FOBES CANYON...APPLE CANYON...HERKEY CREEK AND COLDWATER CREEK.
IN ADDITION...ROADS THAT MAY BE AFFECTED INCLUDE... BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO...THOSE IN THE VICINITY OF SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE...HIGHWAY 74...OR PINES TO PALMS HIGHWAY...BETWEEN MOUNTAIN CENTER AND MORRIS RANCH ROAD...FOBES RANCH ROAD APPLE CANYON ROAD... BONITA VISTA ROAD...FOREST SERVICE 5521 AND FOREST SERVICE 5505.
DEBRIS FLOWS...INCLUDING MUD AND ROCK SLIDES...ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. MUD SLIDES AND ROCK SLIDES CAN POTENTIALLY TRAP AND KILL PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THEIR PATH. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY.
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT TAKES ONLY A FEW INCHES OF SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.
