Natural History Wanderings

PRESS RELEASE:

Death Valley National Park remains closed after the remnants of Hurricane Hilary delivered a year’s worth of rain in one day. An estimated 400 residents, travelers, and employees are sheltering in place at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs until area roads are safely passable. It is not known when the first sections of the park will reopen.

The National Park Service (NPS) and California Highway Patrol are searching today for any stranded people in more remote areas of the park, and NPS teams are assessing on the ground impacts throughout the park. Caltrans and NPS are working to clear an exit route on CA-190 from Stovepipe Wells to Death Valley Junction so visitors and employees can safely exit the park.

The unprecedented rain came in two bursts, with about an inch of rain Sunday morning and another inch of rain Sunday night. Preliminary data from the official National Weather Service rain gauge at Furnace Creek recorded 2.20 inches of rain – the park’s average annual rainfall. Once verified, this would be the single rainiest day in Furnace Creek history, beating the record of 1.7 inches set August 5, 2022. Higher amounts of rain fell in the mountains.

For more information, visit: https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/hilary.htm

Along Highway 190 in Death Valley National Park

Image 1: A mountain landscape outlines a stretch of road destroyed by flood waters. NPS

Image 2: A truck pushes flood water and rocks from a road that dips between two hills on a foggy night. California Highway Patrol (CHP)

Image 3: Badlands and mountains line a road undercut by rocky debris caused by floodwaters. NPS