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Palm Springs Flooded: Roads Closed on New Year's
2 Jan
Summary
- Road closures occurred on New Year's Eve and Day due to flooding.
- Palm Springs received 0.58 inches of rain in 12 hours.
- Seasonal rainfall totals have already more than doubled the normal amount.
Several key roads in Palm Springs, including sections of North Gene Autry Trail, Indian Canyon Drive, and East Vista Chino, remained closed on January 1, 2026, due to flooding. These closures began late on New Year's Eve and continued into the early hours of New Year's Day, impacting travel around the city.
Palm Springs recorded about 0.58 inches of rain in the 12 hours leading up to noon on January 1, 2026. This amount significantly exceeds the average rainfall for this time of year. Since October 1, 2025, the city has received 2.34 inches of rain, more than double the typical 1.11 inches expected for the season.
Meteorologists attribute the heavy rainfall to a low-pressure system drawing in tropical moisture, overcoming the region's usual "rain shadow" effect. While the rain was expected to taper off by the afternoon of January 1, 2026, the risk of flooding in Southern California remains a concern.
