Valley gets break from stormy weather, flooded road closures still in effect

The recent series of storms left roads closed and flooding throughout the Valley. For some drivers, it’s an inconvenience to find another route. Some decide to drive straight through flooded roads instead.

“They chance it and it’s not good chancing it because it looks like it’s a hard flowing water that goes through here,” Jaime Munoz said.

In the last couple of weeks, the Whitewater Wash quickly regained the flow of its river.

“In Palm Springs from the Interstate 10 bridge down to Indian Avenue the Whitewater River drops more than 650 feet. That’s more than the Mississippi River drops on its trip from Davenport, Iowa all the way down to New Orleans,” Bob Keeran with the Coachella Valley Water District said.

As water collects and floods in the streets near the wash in La Quinta, some drivers found it difficult to get where they were trying to go. While cameras didn’t spot anyone trying to cross the flooded road, one person who lives next to the area says it’s not uncommon for some drivers to try.

“People move the signs and we’ll sit here and watch them and be like, ‘hey are you going to put the signs back?’ and they just keep driving,” Michael Moss said.

One hiker in Palm Springs had to be rescued after becoming stranded Sunday night. The rainfall was so strong crews weren’t able to rescue the hiker until Monday morning. The hiker was transported to an area hospital.

But there was a brighter side to the severe weather. One viewer in Indio decided to go paddle boarding in a neighborhood park that was flooded, giving neighbors a needed break from the gloomy weather. With the end of the storm in sight, a rainbow filled the valley sky as a reminder for the sunny days ahead.

While wet weather conditions have subsided, drivers are urged to find alternate routes. Click the link for a list of recent closures.