DEVA Deluge 2022

Monsoonal rain flooded Mud Canyon in Death Valley National Park on Aug. 5, 2022.

NPS

 

Large rocks carried from August 5, 2022 flash floods cover the parking lot at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. August 6, 2022.

NPS

On August 5, 2022, unprecedented rains caused severe flash floods across Death Valley National Park. These flooding events brought large flows of debris across roads, damaging and ultimately closing all roads in the park.

The amount of water that fell over Death Valley was significant in many ways. The rain gauge recorded 1.70 inches of rain, making this the rainiest day in recorded history at the Furnace Creek weather station. In just a few hours, the park received three-quarters of its 2.20-inch annual average rainfall.

"The heavy rain that caused the devastating flooding at Death Valley was an extremely rare, 1000-year event", says Daniel Berc, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Las Vegas. “A 1000-year event doesn't mean it happens once per 1,000 years, rather that there is a 0.1% chance of occurring in any given year."

In the days after, the park and its partners continue to assess and mend damages caused by these floods. Most all roads in the park received damage. The most up to date park and road information can be found on the alerts & conditions page.

 

Open Transcript 

Transcript

Sounds of running water.

Duration:

18.7 seconds

Flood waters travel down Mud Canyon over damaged road.

 

 

 

Click here for more information about the Deluge

 

Alerts & Conditions Page

 

Death Valley Road Status

— Open Roads (paved)
— Closed Roads
— Dirt Roads: All backcountry roads have areas of moderate to severe damage. Some areas are impassable and many roads have not yet been assessed. Travel not recommended.
--- Hiking Trails

 

Death Valley Status Map

The map below shows the current status of park roads and road construction. Click on a road segment or icon for more information. Conditions can change quickly, so check back often. Short-term road closures and delays may not be shown.