Flash floods have again washed across Mojave National Preserve in California, forcing closure of the preserve’s roads. One motorist who ignored recent closures saw their car trapped in the resulting quagmire.
The latest heavy rains washed out portions of Black Canyon Road and covered South Kelbaker Road with rocks, sand, and debris, a park release said Friday.
On Thursday, more than 2 inches of rain fell on the Hole-in-the-Wall area. The rains washed-out multiple portions of Black Canyon Road and severed access to the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center and Campground. National Park Service road crews made temporary repairs to the campground access road, which allowed a group of stranded campers to depart the preserve safely.
Cima Road, Kelso Cima Road, Kelbaker Road, Ivanpah Road, Morning Star Road, Essex Road, Black Canyon Road, and the Mojave Road were all closed for public safety. The Mojave Road, a historic trans-desert pathway and now a dirt road, remains impassable across Soda Lake due to standing water and deep mud that would strand even four-wheel drive vehicles.
Preserve crews will need to reassess damage and plan for repair and clean-up. Loose rocks, soft shoulders, steep shoulder drop-offs, and pavement undercutting are common on preserve roads, and additional monsoon rains were in the forecast. The roads will remain closed until assessments and repairs can be made.
Travelers should not bypass road closures, even if GPS mapping services indicate that roads may be open.
“Do not drive into flooded areas, turn around, don’t drown,” the release said.
One vehicle was recently trapped in a wash on North Kelbaker, and though the occupants were not injured, the vehicle had to be abandoned.
Mojave National Preserve has been pounded this summer by monsoonal rains, which have been heavier and lasting longer into the summer months than typical.
According to the National Weather Service, “the term ‘monsoon’ describes large-scale wind shifts that transport moist tropical air to dry desert locations, such as the southwestern United States.”
Parts of the Southwest can receive 40-50 percent of their annual precipitation during monsoon season, which runs from June 15 through September, according to the Weather Service.
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