Cooler weather has brought some serious storms the last few weekends here in the high desert – with rain and flash floods returning this last week alongside the murder winds that helpfully rearranged my backyard a few times already.
Joshua Tree National Park will only get busier as the weather turns temperate – but if you are planning on heading into the National Park there are a few things you should always check before getting in the car –
Road Conditions and alerts are easy to find on the national park’s home page at www.nps.gov/jotr/ – just click “Alerts” and you see road closures or warnings about your time in the park.
You may not know that there is a webcam in the national park – it’s perched at the top of Belle Mountain and looks Southeast over the foothills. It’s also a great indicator of air quality in the park – luckily because of recent weather and a milder fire season, that’s something we haven’t had to worry about much this year.
Link: Joshua Tree National Park Air Quality Webcam
If weather ever surprises you while out in the desert – play it safe and pull over, especially in heavy rain where washouts and flash floods can happen quickly. Remember – turn around, don’t drown.
