Death Valley Floods Deemed a ‘1,000-Year Event’

Last week’s historic rainfall and flash flooding that caused widespread damage and left hundreds of staff and tourists stranded in Death Valley National Park is another clear sign of how fossil fuel-driven climate emergency is intensifying extreme weather, experts say.

The otherwise bone dry landscape between California and Nevada was pummeled by multiple downpours last week. Friday’s storm dumped an estimated 1.46 inches of rain at Furnace Creek—75% of the annual average total for the park, where less than two inches of precipitation per year is typical—in just three hours.

The resulting torrent washed out roads, pushed dumpsters and other debris into parked cars, inundated hotel rooms and other infrastructure, and left extensive mud and gravel deposits, the National Park Service said. With Death Valley containing more than 1,000 miles of roadway and 3.4 million acres, officials expect a full assessment of the damage and ensuing repairs to take time.

Friday’s rainfall, which came after heavy rains last Monday and led to flash floods and road closures in the area, fell just short of the all-time daily record of 1.47 inches, set in April 1988.

But it shattered previous August records and caused a deluge that Daniel Berc, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Las Vegas, described as a “1,000-year event,” which means that “there is a 0.1% chance of occurring in any given year.”

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in Death Valley have been around 114°F this week and are forecast to reach 116°F on Thursday and Friday.

Last week’s “1,000-year flood is another example of this extreme environment,” said park superintendent Mike Reynolds. “With climate change models predicting more frequent and more intense storms, this is a place where you can see climate change in action.”

Originally published at Commondreams.org.