Legacy of Tropical Storm Kay leaves flash flooding impacts across Desert Southwest for days
Abundant tropical moisture still left over from Tropical Storm Kay's demise last weekend got caught up in the jet stream and carried into parts of the Desert Southwest and Great Basin, triggering a substantial threat of flash flooding.
Flash flood threat moves into Intermountain West, northern Rockies on Thursday
The storm threat will continue to migrate north on Thursday, impacting Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
LAS VEGAS – Tropical Storm Kay may have fizzled at sea last week, but its legacy lived for days as its remnants pelted the Desert Southwest with numerous showers and thunderstorms, leading to areas of flash flooding and a number of water rescues across Southern California, Nevada and Utah.
(FOX Weather)
"When that happens, it takes all that tropical moisture with it," said FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin. "So you don't necessarily need a tropical storm or a defined circulation to really bring in all that moisture; it just takes a little bit of that spin."
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Flood Watches were in effect for three days in the region, though while a few lingering showers and thunderstorms were rumbling across the Intermountain West and inland Northwest on Thursday, all flood alerts had been dropped.
A couple was rescued after their van became trapped in high waters in Clark County on Sept. 14, 2022.
(Las Vegas Metro Police Department)
In Southern California, heavy rains hit San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties particularly hard. Police officers in the city of San Bernardino rescued a mother and her children who were nearly swept away during a raging flash flood Sunday.
A mom had called police about an unrelated problem Sunday afternoon, according to the SoCal News Outlet. But as the family was heading back to their car, an impromptu river roared down the street, nearly washing them away.
Dashcam video from San Bernardino Police shows three of their officers rescuing the mother who had lost her balance while trying to cross the rapids. Officers then assisted two children and others who had become stranded on the other side of the water.
San Bernardino Police Dept. rescues family from flooding
Officers with the San Bernardino Police Department save a mother and her children from being swept away by floodwaters
Farther out in San Bernardino County, flash flooding rolled through the Forest Falls area, causing severe damage and leaving one person still missing.
Over 120 search-and-rescue personnel are combing the area looking for the missing resident as the area begins to clean up the damage.
In nearby Los Angeles County, dozens were trapped after a mudslide and debris flow in Lake Hughes. Los Angeles County Fire Department officials confirmed they rescued approximately 50 people who were taken to a nearby county fire station to meet with the American Red Cross.
Heavy rain over burn scar triggers Southern California mudslide
Heavy rainfall along a Southern California burn scar set off a mudslide Sunday night, causing multiple cars to become stuck in the debris and prompting rescue efforts. FOX Weather's Nicole Valdes reports.
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Also in Southern California, heavy rains in Oak Glen near Yucaipa sent a wall of mud into town, burying part of a restaurant under feet of mud.
Mudslide damage to California steakhouse 'shocking to see,' manager says
Manager of Oak Glen Steakhouse and Saloon Brandon Gallegos says the inside of his restaurant was damaged by massive trees and large rocks from the debris flow. Gallegos noted to FOX Weather efforts to excavate all the dirt has been a slow process with the majority of the building suffering impacts.
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In Nevada, thunderstorms brought instant torrents of water across Clark County – home to Las Vegas.
Two people who had pulled off the highway in their van to rest Tuesday night found themselves in the middle of a flash flood, with water climbing chest high. Las Vegas Police sent a rescue helicopter to hoist the two to safety without injury.
Rescue crews also had to save a semi-truck driver who got stuck in floodwaters on State Route 169, prompting a soggy escape:
"There’s a big upper level supporting these showers, and because it’s an upper-level feature… we don’t necessarily need that daytime heating to hold onto those nocturnal storms," Merwin said. "So we are going to showers and storms even lasting through the overnight, but it will be more widespread during the afternoon because of the sunshine’s (heating)."
In neighboring Utah, heavy rains pushed through drought-stricken Salt Lake City, providing some cheers…and jeers.
Ramps connecting Interstate 215 to Interstate 80 were closed Wednesday after a semi jackknifed on slick roads and crashed into a barrier, according to Utah's Department of Public Safety.
A trailing car smashed into the truck, causing a fuel leak.
A truck crashed into a barrier on the ramp from I-215 to I-80 in Salt Lake City during heavy rains Wednesday.
(Utah Department of Public Safety)
Students at Salt Lake City's Skyline High School got to end the day a little early after heavy rains flooded the building.
Over an inch of rain fell in spots around the Salt Lake City area, though only 0.22 inches of it fell at the airport.
"This is beneficial (rain) – we need it," Merwin said. "We have drought conditions across the area, but we could see some short-term flooding because of how much rain we’re anticipating."