Flash Flood Warning: Imperial County, CA — flooding now or soon, until 8:30 a.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11

What is happening: Strong thunderstorms are dropping heavy rain on dry desert ground, where water runs off fast into washes and roads. The National Weather Service office in Phoenix says flash flooding is happening now or will start soon. NWS calls this life-threatening flash flooding. Between 0.5 and 1.25 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area.

Where: The warning covers northeastern Imperial County around Palo Verde, along the Colorado River just south of Blythe. Places NWS named include Blythe, Nicholls Warm Springs, Palo Verde, Blythe Airport, Ripley and East Blythe.

Until when: The warning lasts until 8:30 a.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11. NWS can extend it or end it early, so check for updates.

Past the last utility pole.High-speed service for counties the fiber crews have not reached.CHECK AVAILABILITYSponsored

Earlier warnings: The earlier NWS warning that ran until 2:45 a.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11 (El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, Imperial, Holtville, El Centro Naval Airfield, Mt. Signal, Heber, Alamorio and nearby areas) has ended. The earlier NWS warning that ran until 1:45 a.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11 (Cibola) has ended. The earlier NWS warning that ran until 1 a.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11 (Algodones Dunes, Gordon's Well and Andrade) has ended. The earlier NWS warning that ran until 3:30 a.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11 (Plaster City, Ocotillo, Coyote Wells and Dixieland) has ended. The earlier NWS warning that ran until 3:45 a.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11 (Brawley, Westmorland and Calipatria) has ended. The earlier NWS warning that ran until 5 a.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11 (North Shore, Bombay Beach and Imperial Hot Mineral Springs) has ended.

What to do: Turn around, don't drown. Never drive or walk into floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one to two feet can carry away a car. Stay away from creeks, streams, washes, rivers and low roads. Do not drive around barricades. If water starts rising near you, go to higher ground right away. Flooded roads are hard to see in the dark.

Stay informed: Check https://www.weather.gov/psr/ for the latest from the National Weather Service, and follow Cal OES (https://www.caloes.ca.gov) and your county Office of Emergency Services. Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep it charged.

Find shelters and supplies: https://zost.app/pages/ca/imperial

Sources: National Weather Service Phoenix Flash Flood Warning via api.weather.gov (https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.a9dc96b88b7d2e0b2b26a09681d1e2df0e1cf3f8.001.1). Updated 6:05 a.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11. Notice Nearby wrote this brief in its own words. More Imperial County notices: https://noticenearby.com/ca/imperial