Flash floods wash out Highway 86, close over a dozen roads in Imperial County, California
More than a dozen roads in Imperial County, California were shut down on August 26, 2025, after severe monsoonal storms triggered flash floods, road erosion, and power outages across the region.
Flooding along Highway 85 near Elmore Ranch on August 26, 2025. Credit: Disaster Update
More than a dozen roads across Imperial County were closed on August 26, as severe storms moved through southern California.
Flash floods, downed power poles, and road erosion caused by monsoonal storms that brought heavy rain and hail to the region left several roads closed, as floodwaters washed out the routes, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The California Highway Patrol responded to significant flooding on Highway 86, which washed out a section of the road and left debris scattered. Downed powerlines also made the road impassable. On Tuesday night, Caltrans reported that Highway 86 had fully reopened to traffic.
Highway 86 near Desert Elmore Ranch, California – 25 August 2025 – Massive flash flooding covered roadway
byu/DisasterUpdate inDisasterUpdate
Thunderstorms began affecting the region on August 25, with more than 10 000 lightning strikes recorded across San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that most of the lightning strikes occurred between 11:00 and 20:00 local time. In San Diego County, 5 025 lightning strikes were recorded, including 262 cloud-to-ground strikes.
In Riverside County, 3 886 lightning strikes and 178 cloud-to-ground strikes were recorded. San Bernardino County recorded 1 163 lightning strikes, including 148 cloud-to-ground strikes.
The three weather stations that recorded the highest rainfall on Monday were Palm Canyon Creek with 36.1 mm (1.42 inches), Agua Caliente with 29.7 mm (1.17 inches), and Heart Bar with 22.9 mm (0.90 inches).
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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