Death Valley National Park transforms into land of ephemeral lakes after Hurricane Hilary
On Aug. 20, remnants from Hilary dropped about a year’s worth of rain for the park in just one day. The rainwater flowed into nearly every basin in the park, forming temporary lakes.
Hurricane Hilary creates lake in Death Valley
Remnants of Hurricane Hilary dropped so much water in Death Valley National Park in August that temporary lakes formed, with some lasting into early November. FOX Weather's Max Gorden reports. Nov. 9, 2023.
DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – The hottest and driest place in the U.S. has turned into an aquatic wonderland after Hurricane Hilary brought historic rains to Death Valley National Park two months ago.
On Aug. 20, remnants from Hilary dropped about a year’s worth of rain for the park in just one day. The rainwater flowed into nearly every basin in the park, forming ephemeral lakes.
"The most notable one is the one at Badwater Basin," said Matthew Lamar, park ranger at Death Valley National Park. He noted that Badwater Basin, a salt flat that is 282 feet below sea level and as far as the eye can see, is the lowest point in North America.
Photos taken last weekend and earlier this week showed just how much rainwater remained in the usually dry Badwater Basin, which has turned the salt flat into an expansive reflecting pool.
![DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 23: Visitors view the sprawling temporary lake at Badwater Basin salt flats as the sun rises, which was caused by flooding in August from Tropical Storm Hilary, at the recently reopened Death Valley National Park on October 23, 2023 in Death Valley National Park, California. The storm delivered a year’s worth of rain to Death Valley in a single day and flood damage forced the iconic desert park’s closure for eight weeks. Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth and Badwater Basin is located 282 feet below sea level, the lowest elevation in North America. Parts of the park remain closed as repair work continues. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)]()
Image 1 of 5Visitors view the sprawling temporary lake at Badwater Basin salt flats as the sun rises. Oct. 23, 2023. (Mario Tama)
![DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 21: A visitor walks in the sprawling temporary lake at Badwater Basin salt flats, which was caused by flooding in August from Tropical Storm Hilary, at the recently reopened Death Valley National Park on October 21, 2023 in Death Valley National Park, California. The storm delivered a year’s worth of rain to Death Valley in a single day and flood damage forced the iconic desert park’s closure for eight weeks. Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth and Badwater Basin is located 282 feet below sea level, the lowest elevation in North America. Parts of the park remain closed as repair work continues. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)]()
Image 2 of 5A visitor walks in the sprawling temporary lake at Badwater Basin salt flats. Oct. 21, 2023. (Mario Tama)
![DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 22: Visitors gather at the edge of the sprawling temporary lake at Badwater Basin salt flats, which was caused by flooding in August from Tropical Storm Hilary, at the recently reopened Death Valley National Park on October 22, 2023 in Death Valley National Park, California. The storm delivered a year’s worth of rain to Death Valley in a single day and flood damage forced the iconic desert park’s closure for eight weeks. Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth and Badwater Basin is located 282 feet below sea level, the lowest elevation in North America. Parts of the park remain closed as repair work continues. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)]()
Image 3 of 5Visitors gather at the edge of the sprawling temporary lake at Badwater Basin salt flats. Oct. 22, 2023. (Mario Tama)
![Uplift on the salt flats As salt crystals grow over time, slabs of the salt crust are uplifted and eroded.]()
Image 4 of 5Badwater Basin salt flat without pool of water. As the salt crystals in the basin grow over time, slabs of the salt crust are uplifted and eroded. (NPS)
![Water that created a small lake in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes of Death Valley. Oct. 21, 2023.]()
Image 5 of 5Water that created a small lake in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes of Death Valley. Oct. 21, 2023. (Death Valley National Park)
The basin filled with about 2 feet of water soon after the storm. The last time a similar lake formed at Death Valley was in 2005, when another major rain event occurred, according to Lamar.
DEATH VALLEY FLOODED BY REMNANTS OF HURRICANE HILARY
"The event we experienced in August was one of these dynamic events that has helped to shape Death Valley," Lamar said. "Some of those impacts will last for years and some, like the lake, will maybe only last for weeks or months."
The current depth of the lake in Badwater Basin stands at about a couple inches, but the view is still impressive, he said.
Visitors gather at the sprawling temporary lake at Badwater Basin salt flats. Oct. 21. 2023.
(Mario Tama / Getty Images)
Park officials are unsure about how much longer the lake will last, but Lamar believes visitors will still be able to view the transformed Badwater Basin at least through next week and the weekend.
In addition to the temporary lakes, the August storm also caused the desert park to become greener than usual for this time of year.
"It's a really special thing," Lamar said. "If people have the ability to come out and experience those changes, even the temporary ones, it truly is special."