Coachella Valley Sees Second Day Of Heavy Rain

PALM SPRINGS -A severe thunderstorm warning lasted just minutes when it was issued by the National Weather Service, today, but that hasn’t stopped the road closures.

Public Works Dept. has announced the closure of the #3 southbound lane of Date Palm Drive, from Vista Chino to Baristo Rd. in Cathedral City.

Also, closed is Los Gatos Rd. between Date Palm Dr. and Ave. La Vista.

Vista Chino is open, but water is steadily accumulating.Valley commuters are strongly encouraged to drive cautiously, at reduced speed through this area.

Heavy rain was reported all across the valley as a system moved east from the Los Angeles area, which saw a heavy deluge earlier in the day prompting a tornado warning.

At 3pm, the 710 freeway was blocked due to major flooding.

Locally, roadways were saturated, but no road closures were reported.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway got 10 inches of new snow on Monday, making for a beautiful scene on top of Mt. San Jacinto, and more is on the way.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the rest of the night in the Riverside and San Bernardino Mountains.

In Moreno Valley,a woman with a child in her car tried to cross a flooded intersection in Moreno Valley this afternoon and got stuck, requiring assistance from fire crews.

The woman’s Nissan Altima stalled in water more than a foot deep at the intersection of Heacock Street and Iris Avenue around 2:30 p.m., shortly after a thunderstorm moved through the area, authorities said.

Multiple Riverside County fire units were sent to the location for a possible swiftwater rescue and were still at the scene 45 minutes later, according to fire department spokeswoman Cheri Patterson.

She emphasized the need for motorists to avoid trying to cross roads where water levels are visibly high.

Numerous streets in Moreno Valley, Rubidoux and Riverside were temporarily shut down due to flooding today.