Monsoonal rain, flash floods, and dust storms caused disruptions throughout the Hi and Low Deserts this weekend. Starting about 4:20 p.m., both directions of Highway 62 were shut down for almost two hours Sunday afternoon when torrential rains flooded the highway from Rotary Way to Whitefeather Road in Joshua Tree with water and debris, and vehicles were stranded in washes and dirt roads in Joshua Tree. CalTrans was called out to clear the road of mud and debris. A non-injury traffic crash was reported in the area at 5:40. Westbound lanes were re-opened about 6 p.m., and eastbound lanes a half hour later. A tornado was spotted in the Landers area, but no damage was reported. In Joshua Tree National Park, the Park Service reported that dirt roads were impassable and Pinto Basin Road from Stirrup Tank to the south entrance was closed due to flooding. Hwy 62 was also closed at Hwy 177 due to flash floods. In Johnson Valley, Old Woman Springs Road was completely flooded and impassable about 10 miles east of Camp Rock Road about 7:30 Sunday night. On Saturday, rains forced the cancellation of the Yucca Valley concert in the park, and Friday night’s Live at the Rock concert was canceled due to a dust storm. In Desert Center, a bridge on Interstate 10 near Eagle Mountain Road collapsed, crushing a pickup truck and sending at least one person to the hospital. The freeway is shut down in both directions and traffic is being re-routed. The CHP said I-10 could be closed up to two months, which will bring extra traffic through the Morongo Basin. Some drivers may go around the closed area of I-10 by taking Highway 62 north then Highway 95 back south and rejoining I-10 in Blythe.
