Mountain rain floods some valley roadways

Palm Springs had an unexpected road closure over night, after several roads flood from mountain rain.

A two-mile stretch of Gene Autry Trail was reopened around noon today after being closed late last night by a mystery flash flood, police said Tuesday.

The road, between Interstate 10 to the north, and Via Escuela to the south, became flooded when the wash that bisects it overflowed its banks.

Palm Springs Police Department Sgt. Kelly Fieux said the flood was reported around 2:30 a.m.

No vehicles had been reported trapped, Fieux said.

Flooding has also led to the closure of one westbound lane on Vista Chino at the wash.

We also learned that Dillon Road near Desert Hot Springs was flooded but was not shut down by emergency crews.

The cause of the flooding was a matter of guesswork, Fieux said, but possibly the result of extended rainfall over the nearby San Jacinto Mountains.