...For an Important Weather Bulletin!
Kitties!
We had a record-breaking rainfall Thursday here in the desert--1.10" (28cm) in under two hours--and it caused quite a bit of damage; thankfully across the street and not at our house. Although the poor park took quite a hit. It's situated on the edge of the wash, into which the valley of the mountains up the road from our house funnel all their runoff.
The peeps were having an afternoon coffee on the Catio around 3 PM when it got suddenly DARK and...Holy COD...the rain started coming down in torrents, with the lightening cracks that were so close both of 'em were squealing like little girls and sent us under the beds. It came so fast the ground couldn't absorb much of it, so this happened:
or click HERE
The thunderclaps were so loud they set off the car alarm!
Traffic was just crawling on the highway at the intersection at the top of the street so when the rain let up a little they drove up to see what was going on:
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The highway was covered in basketball-sized boulders washed down from the rain and cars were having to navigate around them. The rain quit about 5 PM, and shortly afterwards there were City crews out with heavy equipment cleaning the pavement; they worked until past midnight to make it passable.
The next day Daddy went over to the park to check out the damage.
This is the entrance by our house. The water overtopped the curb!
The horse gate leading into the desert. It should be flat.
The river bed there is...um...*new*.
This is the Bocce ball court pre-flood.
This is the North end now...
...and this is the bench that's on the far right of the "before" photo!
It's literally TONS of mud, and the clean-up crews have already begun working, but it's going to be a while before things are back to normal, the entire park's been inundated with mud.
Mommy is planning a hike on her days off to scope out the hills on the other side of the highway to see what she can see...all that dirt had to come from somewhere...we know where it is NOW!
So, that was our exciting Thursday afternoon.
Which is more than enough for a while...
Happy Caturday!
XX The Katnip Lounge XX
Goodness - had Salem been doing a rain dance ? That is scary wet. And the mud - yuck. Keep dry, gang!
ReplyDeleteWhoa. That is some craziness right there. So much water in such a short period of time! We are sorry there is so much damage -- testament to the power of water -- but super glad you are all safe.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Wow, that's a lot of damage! My human says we could use some of that rain... maybe not quite that much!
ReplyDeleteWow that's a lot of damage. Did you get scared kitties?
ReplyDeleteEmma and Buster
Yikes! Hope there wasn't any kitties caught out in that mess. Where will you play Bocce ball now? I thought you were an Olympic Bocce ball hopeful, getting up early everyday and practicing for hours. I hope this doesn't shatter your dreams. I still believe in you, stay strong! Team Katnip all the way!!
ReplyDeleteFlash floods are so very dangerous. Please be so careful!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, thankfully you kitties are safe.
ReplyDeleteFlash floods are so very dangerous. Please be so careful!
ReplyDeleteWow - those are amazing pictures - so glad you are all safe! Be careful out hiking that there aren't sink holes or anything!
ReplyDeleteThere are bad fires caused by lightning on the east side of the state very near where I grew up. I wish we had some of your rain! XOX T.
WOW! Our rain never causes problems like THAT! Even when our front yard fills up with rain (we are at the bottom of a sloping neighborhood) after weird big storms, it drains away an everything is like it was before.
ReplyDeleteWow, dat are a lotta rain!
ReplyDeleteMy Ceiling Cat, that's a lot of damage.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens! What a mess!
ReplyDeleteWow! That was quite the storm and it certainly has left a huge mess. We're glad you were all safe, though. It's pretty amazing and awesome (awesome in it's real meaning) what Nature can do, even in such a short time.
ReplyDeletePurrs and peace.
What a mess ! That was really a big storm and a lot of water ! We're sorry for all the damage, but we're glad you're all safe. Purrs
ReplyDeleteYikes, that really was a damaging storm!
ReplyDeleteThat horse fence with the concrete dangling in mid air...wow.
Glad it is over for you and we purr there was no damage to your place,
especially your catio!
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ
Holy crap... No bocce ball for a while.
ReplyDeleteOh, that is terrible! I'm sorry there is so much damage to your beautiful park. I'm glad that it didn't come close to your house. It's scary what damage water can do. :( I'm glad you are all safe.
ReplyDeletewhoa! The destruction of nature. Time to call in FEMA! HAH! We had a two point something earthquake and Jersey residents are joking about the recovery. You will recover.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, that's a lot of rain! I'm sorry it caused such a big mess and damage..but glad your home was ok.
ReplyDeleteOh my Cod! That was a lot of rain! Your daddy's truck alarm scared the beejeezus out of us! Would you believe our Grandma from Vegas got no rain from that storm? She must live in the banana belt. Glad you all are safe and hope everything is fixed up soon!
ReplyDeleteYikes- I am glad you are all safe.
ReplyDeleteDang, we heard about that on the TV thing and were wondering if y'all were okay. We are sure glad you made it through the storm.
ReplyDeleteOMG! 1 inch of rain did that!?! They say if we get a heavy rainfall right now we could have flash floods because we've had almost no rain or precipitation in 8 months. The undergrowth on the hills is all dead and would wash away - down into the river (which is right behind our house).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour! Even Daddy watched!
Kisses
Nellie
OMC, you had a river running by your house. We is glad you kitties (and your beans) had no damage. Mom beans says she can't imagine an inch of rain doing so much damage.
ReplyDeleteSasha, Sami, & Saku
Wow, that was a lot of rain! You guys will be doing the backstroke!
ReplyDeleteHoly cat! Mom L and Dad P remember what all that area looked like. And that kind of mud is so heavy and hard to move!
ReplyDeleteWow! That is a lot of damage from the flash flood. I know you desperately need rain, but that was rather drastic. Glad you all are okay.
ReplyDeleteI heard about your awful weather on the news and am glad you are all ok!
ReplyDeleteyoW! we have just about forgotten what rain sounds like. That was a powerful downpour! the damage to the park is a shame, though we are glad nobuddy's home was damaged.
ReplyDeletepip, smidgen, minnie, hollie
Meowm recalls very well getting caught in a storm like that when she lived there. She has parked along side the road, but soon realized she might very well be swept away, so she found higher ground to park at and wait it out. Glad you all didn't get washed away!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow!!! What a lot of damage. And please tell me you meant. 2.8 cm, or 28 mm... :)
ReplyDeletethat 'river bed' under the fence is mightily impressive..
ReplyDeleteand it totally doesn't pay to park on the side of the road, does it?