LAS VEGAS (AP) — Heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding that closed several roads in Death Valley National Park on Friday near the California-Nevada line.
The National Weather Service reported shortly after noon that all park roads had been closed after 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of rain fell in a short amount of time. Death Valley National Park reported on its website that multiple roads were closed due to flooding and debris, including Highway 190 north to Scotty’s Castle, and that other roads may be impassable.
The Furnace Creek Visitor Center also was closed.
The full extent of the closures and damage wasn’t immediately clear. Phones rang busy at park headquarters and a park spokesperson who was on temporary assignment in Alaska said in an email to The Associated Press that the phones were probably out of service.
A flash flood warning for the park and surrounding area expired at 12:45 p.m., but a flood advisory remained in effect into the evening, the weather service said.
