INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – A summer monsoon storm that swept out of Baja California overhauled the Metro area with the most rain in a year late Sunday. And, the consequences were spread over a wide area.

Flash flooding inundated streets and highways with mud, rocks and debris. Several swift water rescues were reported.

More than an inch of rain drenched Moreno Valley, Perris, San Bernardino and Redlands most of it in an hour. A rain gauge at Yucaipa Ridge measured nearly 4-inches of rain.

The storm took a toll on some mountain communities. At Forest Falls, flooded washes trapped vehicles and swept away propane tanks. A mudslide near Mt. Baldy Village caused another propane tank to catch fire.
Mud closed Highway 243 between Banning and Idyllwild.

Approximately 1,500 residents in Oak Glen were stranded. Oak Glen Road is blocked by debris flows in 5 locations:
-Oak Glen Dr. cross of upper Potato Canyon Dr.
-Potato Canyon Rd between Oak Glen Rd. Upper and lower.
-Oak Glen Rd just on West side of Pine Bench Rd.
-Oak Glen Rd between Pine Bench Rd and Wildwood Canyon Dr.
-Pine Bench road between Oak Glen Rd and Oak Glen Camp.

Currently two CAL FIRE dozers are working debris flows from both sides.

In the desert, flash floods trapped 400 vehicles on Highway 62 east of Twentynine Palms.

In the Coachella Valley, mud and rocks 6-feet deep buried Box Canyon Road near Mecca. Fast moving water trapped more vehicles in Cathedral City. Several streets were closed in Palm Springs as the storm delivered 8-tenths-of-an-inch of rain.

Forecasters say that clearing skies and a drying trend will help speed the clean-up and roads repairs.

Story Date: August 3, 2014