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UPDATE | Flooding Strikes Death Valley, Closes Roads

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By Compiled From N... - August 1st, 2022

Flash flooding washed this car off Highway 190 in Death Valley National Park/NPS

Editor's note: This updates with damage to Mojave National Preserve, and that Scotty's Castle is not expected to open to the public until 2023.

Monsoonal rains Sunday led to flooding in Death Valley National Park, washing away cars in some instances and closing roads into and within the park. On the west side of the park, floodwaters swept away this vehicle as it traveled Highway 190 a few miles west of Stovepipe Wells. At Mojave National Preserve in California, the storms ripped up sections of roads across the park.

"Sections of Highway 190, and North Highway (Scotty's Castle Rd), Lower Wildrose Rd, Dantes View and Badwater are closed due to flooding and debris," Death Valley staff stated on the park's website Monday. "It is likely that additional roads are impassable. Closures subject to change with changing conditions.

"... The park is currently experiencing stormy weather, which is making many roads in the park impassable due to flooding and debris. DO NOT attempt to drive through deep water/debris on roads."

Parts of Kelbaker Road in Mojave National Preserve have been completely destroyed/NPS

Cloudbursts can quickly generate floods in Death Valley. Back in October 2015 a storm sent torrents down through Grapevine Canyon that uprooted utilities, swept away sections of roads, and flooded buildings at Scotty's Castle. The storm dumped nearly 3 inches of rain on the castle and the surrounding landscape over a five-hour period, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Weather radar suggested 3-4 inches of precipitation elsewhere in the lower part of the drainage basin during the same event, which the National Weather Service estimated to be a “1,000-year rainfall event.”  

It's expected to take until the end of this year to have the iconic park destination ready to welcome the public back for regular tours of the grounds and castle.

At Mojave National Preserve, the rains damaged Kelbaker Road, Cima Road, Essex Road, Zzxyz Road, and Morning Star Road. They all were closed.

"Flooding washed out one section of Kelbaker Road entirely," the park reported. "Many other roads have extensive debris on the roadway or are partially undermined."

Heavy rains for the two parks remain in the forecast for this week.

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