A strong thunderstorm could bring wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-size hail to parts of the Coachella Valley on Thursday afternoon, July 16, while heavy rain could flood roads and low-water crossings from Palm Springs to nearby mountain communities.
The National Weather Service said Palm Desert and southeastern Palm Springs could be affected and issued a flood advisory through the evening for southeastern Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage.
When flooding could happen
Doppler radar detected heavy rain from thunderstorms at about 3:18 p.m. Thursday. Minor flooding could already be occurring or begin shortly in southeastern Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and several mountain communities, the National Weather Service said.
A quarter-inch to half an inch of rain is forecast, which could cause minor flooding on roads and in low-lying places with poor drainage, raise water levels in small streams and normally dry arroyos, and send dangerous flows over low-water crossings.
The advisory also includes Anza, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, Mountain Center, Lake Hemet, Mount San Jacinto State Park and portions of Highway 74 between Palm Desert and Anza and between Anza and Mountain Center.
Storm could bring wind gusts of up to 40 mph
A thunderstorm near Highway 74 between Anza and Palm Desert was moving north at about 5 mph and could bring wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-size hail to Palm Desert, southeastern Palm Springs, eastern Anza, Santa Rosa Mountain and nearby portions of the highway, according to the National Weather Service.
The gusts could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects, while the hail could cause minor damage to vegetation.
The weather service advises people outdoors to seek shelter inside a building. Drivers should not attempt to cross flooded roads and should instead find another route.
Have a video to send us? Here’s how
The Desert Sun uses social media to gather reader photos and videos when major weather events are happening, so feel free to email at TDS-localnews@gannett.com if you want to share your wind, rain, earthquake or other breaking news videos with us.
Jennifer Cortez covers education and breaking news in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Storm could bring hail, flooding and 40 mph winds to Coachella Valley
Reporting by Jennifer Cortez, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jennifer Cortez, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
