WeatherFanatics: Odile to Renew Risk of Flooding in Arizona, Nevada, California

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Odile to Renew Risk of Flooding in Arizona, Nevada, California

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

September 14,2014; 9:39PM,EDT

The latest hurricane in the Pacific, Odile, will bring the potential for drenching downpours and a risk of flash flooding in the Southwest starting on Wednesday.
According to AccuWeather.com Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski, Odile is forecast to strengthen and take a path that roughly parallels the coast of Baja California, Mexico, next week.
The circulation around the system will pump another round of moisture into Arizona and portions of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Southern California.

Cities that could experience flash and urban flooding problems include Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Palm Springs and Riverside, California; and Las Vegas.
There is a chance of some of the downpours reaching the Southern California coast, including San Diego and Los Angeles.

According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark, "The most likely days for downpours to reach the Southern California coast are Wednesday and Thursday."
"First the humid air must return to the Southwest, then once it does the way is paved for torrential downpours."
In addition to the threat of flash flooding, mudslides, washouts and dust storms can occur.
Motorists may want to have a more northern, alternate route planned spanning Wednesday through Friday of next week.
Major highways that can be affected include interstates 8, 10, 15 and 40.
RELATED:
AccuWeather.com Mexico Weather Homepage
AccuWeather.com's Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center
Current Statistics for Odile
Some of the stream beds and drainage basins are still clogged with silt and debris from the flows caused by the early September floods. Because of this, some desert locations will be very vulnerable to another round of heavy rain and runoff.
On a single day last week, moisture from Norbert unloaded a record 3.29 inches of rain on Phoenix, which is 40 percent of their average annual rainfall. Similarly, Yuma, Arizona, received 1.44 inches of rain on a single day due to Norbert's influence that was nearly half the average rainfall for the entire year.
Portions of I-15 in Nevada and southern Utah were heavily damaged by erosion and clogged with debris during the flash flooding during early September. According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, traffic was being funneled and detoured as repairs were still being made in parts of Nevada.
Rainfall is unlikely to reach the hardest-hit drought areas of central and northern California in the upcoming weather pattern. Much of this region remains in exceptional drought.

Even the rain from early September did not eradicate the long-term drought farther east.
In addition to the possibility of rain reaching coastal Southern California, large waves generated by the budding Odile will reach the beaches during the second half of next week. The most rough surf conditions will be along the south- and southwest-facing beaches.
"The upcoming rainfall will follow building heat forecast to build this weekend and peak early next week," Clark said.
Temperatures may approach 100 F at downtown Los Angeles on Sunday and Monday.
"In some locations of California this will bring the hottest weather of the year so far," Clark said.
Prior to reaching the Southwest U.S., Odile will bring torrential rainfall, gusty winds and building surf to the west coast of Mexico.

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