The National Weather Service has issued flash flood warnings for parts of rural Riverside and San Bernardino counties amid heavy rains caused by thunderstorms Monday afternoon.
Drivers were urged not to attempt to drive through flooded roads, with the service noting that most flood deaths occur when people are trapped inside their vehicles.
Flash flood warnings cover Joshua Tree National Park, the mountains south of Palm Desert and the I-10 corridor in the Desert Center area west of Blythe.
The warning for the mountains south of Palm Desert is scheduled to expire at 5:15 p.m., with the remaining warnings set to end at 6:15 and 6:30 p.m.
Monday's warnings came after flooding last weekend in the community of Twentynine Palms, north of Joshua Tree National Park. According to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, six people had to be rescued from their vehicles.
Austin Jamison, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said the flooding was due to the desert monsoon season, but skies should clear soon.
The meteorologist, when asked about the risk of fire, said that whenever there is lightning there is a possibility of a fire breaking out, but fires are less common when there is a thunderstorm that produces heavy rain, such as on Monday.
Jamison said there was less than a 10% chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday.
Flash Flood Response in 29 Palms. Yesterday's storm caused rapid flooding, prompting multiple rescues and water-related emergencies. Flood waters rose and receded quickly, allowing firefighters to assist trapped occupants. Please remember that flooded roads can be unstable.
(San Bernardino County Fires)
