RAW video of the most insane flash flood down Whitewater Canyon, California - Tropical Storm Hilary

[@RoseNZieg]

thanks for your hard work!! the live footage are amazing.

[@LastTrueElk]

Thanks, I really try my hardest.

[@Akhmetov_Alikhan]

See mathematical miracle of the Quran in sura Al Fatiha 15 facts, only God can do this

[@o0GrayMatters0o]

you want me to google it or crack my Quran open to Al Fatiha15@@Akhmetov_Alikhan??

[@2990rick]

@@Akhmetov_Alikhan 🥱🥱😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@TonyMay-fd8rg]

It’s called Globule Flooding !

[@jwnrocks]

When I was a kid I experienced flash floods in Palm Desert. There was one road crossing that blew out nearly every year until a full bridge was built. Later, I became a civil engineer, and studied and designed flood control as relates to flash floods (also known as kinematic shock). The power of water cannot be denied. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@jlouis5217]

This just isn't normal!! Wonder where all the animals went.

[@orinhirschkorn5112]

@@jlouis5217 this is normal. Things like this have happened for generations. Just because this is your first time seeing the power of flash flood runoff does not mean it has not happened before. Animals seems to have a sense about certain things and move out of the way.

[@Cmon-Man]

@@jlouis5217 this is very normal. I grew up not far from there, town of Redlands, in the 60’s through the 90’s. It happens often. It makes a lot of noise, the animals have plenty of warning to get out of the way

[@davidkreizinger3830]

'83 palm desert took major damage up the alluvial fan on the west side of Hwy 74 (flood control channel built after that). You mention a bridge, must be Miles Ave and Hwy 111 in Indian Wells. Every crossing of the flood control channel used to wash out every other year in the 80s

[@deserthorses5]

I remember those days, too. Thank you for helping us all.

[@nsbd90now]

Flash floods are scary frightening things. That boulder being pushed around was incredible.

[@The_Ballo]

The mud was so dense the boulder probably floated a bit

[@gloriarangott8803]

Pushing around the Boulder gives credence to the power of water

[@oscarpicon7164]

As a teacher I appreciate you filming and sharing this with the world. Knowledge is powerful and safety.

[@roosjes944]

Is this….. knowledge? Or just looking

[@davidmenasco5743]

​@@roosjes944Looking is how one knows. See: Epistemology

[@marialipscomb6988]

@@roosjes944 it's knowledge of what can happen during a flash flood. Being forwarned about something will help to prepare for it.

[@ohhmanitscam]

@@roosjes944 Science...is literally... gathering objective knowledge... through observation and experimentation... lol

[@paulhayes6920]

Oh its knowledge. Geography and earth science teachers tell students about saltation (that boulder being moved ) but I can't remember seeing such vivid footage before.@@roosjes944

[@charleneweege7149]

Great footage!!! It's rolling that boulder around like it's a feather. I don't think some people understand that you don't have to be in the actual rain when the flash flood comes storming down from the place where the rain is accumulating. That's why it is so dangerous to be in an area where flash flooding occurs.

[@philanderphillips2309]

Not only does Reed chase tornadoes, but he also chases flash floods. Dude is amazing!

[@dylanashley799]

Such a crazy event to say the least, I don't think people knew really what to expect even with the forecast, it went from people saying it was a nothing burger in the chat to huge floods coming through in a matter of 20 minutes. Thank you Reed!

[@jeffc1753]

Yep, just like when everyone said Covid was a big nothing burger also. Everyone is a know it all until Mother Nature proves the opposite.

[@BoMcGillacutty]

Garden variety flash flood. IDK what ppl think created those washes or why they have bridges over them. All those boulders started off with jagged sharp edges far up stream, they've been rolled like this many times over the centuries. Cool to see a few times tho.

[@dylanashley799]

@@BoMcGillacutty people definitely know what made them but I wouldn't consider the first tropical storm to hit LA in 84 years to be garden variety although I do totally understand what you're saying

[@BoMcGillacutty]

@@dylanashley799 The washes speak for themselves, no "tropical storms" necessary to flush them out again and again. This time was just more predictable than most.

[@TangibleGoods]

As far as storms are concerned it was pretty much a nothing burger. Thankfully less than a handful of deaths and not nearly as much damage as predicted.

[@loreenheggli438]

Thank you for providing storm and flash flood coverage! My relatives live close by and everyone was watching this channel! ❤

[@BADSEED13]

For those of us that live out here this is a normal occurrence in that area when heavy rains come through. Especially during the monsoon season. Great video.

[@pakababy3710]

Where is all this water running to?

[@joinjen3854]

​@@pakababy3710rivers, then the ocean.

[@samuelargyropoulos1249]

This particular storm was definitely stronger than normal especially for this time of year. Flash flooding like this happens here every year but it’s just not as widespread as this event was. You get used to this kind of thing over here but to say this was normal would be wrong.

[@boycott2720]

No, this one was not normal. It was not catastrophic, but certainly not normal.

[@boycott2720]

@@pakababy3710 Towards Palm Springs. Just look at a map.

[@tdbarton7712]

My family used to go tubing at Whitewater in the 80s. This footage is incredible and thrilling.

[@simplerider3159]

I lived in California for a long time and I knew about all these flash flood areas but I had never seen one. Awesome video!

[@nicecatholicgrl]

Look at the power behind and in it all!! How fast it just takes everything in it's path!!! Just amazing!! The sound is even a bit scary!! Ty for sharing!!

[@pattoneill2402]

I have never seen water flow push a boulder before. Wow!!

[@evocybernation8839]

It's neat watching the flood "branching" out. Thanks for "rocking and rolling" and keeping up in the "flow," Reed. 😄👍

[@gr8dvd]

Amazing to see from bone dry to huge, dangerous flow. Need part 2 showing where all that stuff ended up!

[@nancygirl2323]

Wow!! That boulder rolling along is incredible! The power behind that has to be immense.

[@gigievans395]

UNBELIEVABLE COVERAGE GUYS! FAB! THANK YOU!❤

[@tallmansfavorites7563]

No music is great,but wish Brian's track was playing, his calm collected explanation and description of the chaos is a perfect balance to natures devastation going on. Was the washed out bridge up by the Wildlands Conservancy higher up on the canyon?

[@Sandra-vg1jn]

My respects to you, Mr. Timmer and crew! Never thought I would be seeing you here in SoCal! Have seen your videos because my sister’s family lives in NE Texas, close to city of Paris, right smack in Tornado Alley. They have spent many hours watching your reports when they have bad weather coming. Would love to see the Dominator! Thank you for all the good you do 😊

[@castelaburannarivera]

Thanks Dr Timmer for such a great on live report. It's amazing the power displayed by the water, amazing and scary.

[@seamus6994]

I lived in Coachella Valley for years. White water Canyon looks like that during heavy rain storms. Not something you see often since it's a very dry desert. But once they have a good rain, it does happen. That's why those areas are called "Washes". And why those small hills on either side are a couple hundred feet apart. We all have seen cars floating or up to their roof tops many times during storms. People that try to cut across desert areas to get to work or their businesses quickly in the morning. I've seen some high dollar cars under water at times. I guess this makes for "Big News" after a Tropical storm. But it's actually pretty normal.

[@ReedTimmerWx]

Yes flash floods happen a lot this time of year! Good stuff

[@jenniferkoster1942]

Though I now live in the foothills of San Bernardino, I did live in the north end of cathedral city for 25 years (came to SoCal in 89), near DaVall & 30th. Im very familiar with the extreme weather of the Coachella Valley, but in all the years I did live there, I’d never witnessed anything like this, the I-10 flooding to closure and the amount of water in the streets was incredible. This was an amazing video of Whitewater. Thanks so much for being out there to get it.

[@Orcagirl0809]

Wow that boulder was rolling like it was a feather

[@ronaldadams9233]

Whitewater canyon, one of my favorite hiking areas, so peaceful. Glad the Nature Conservancy bought the trout farm!

[@ReedTimmerWx]

What a beautiful place

[@fpvangel4495]

You capture some of "natures" most amazing events Reed, great work!

[@ReedTimmerWx]

Thank you FPV! Never stop chasing

[@PaulAllen786]

2:30, the amount of force from the amount of water, Mother Nature

[@wendylady2488]

Lived in Tahquitz Canyon many years ago. Whitewater is definitely known for flooding, thus it's name. Considering reports stated that San Jacinto mountain had over 10 inches of rain, it's no wonder you saw such flooding.

[@boycott2720]

That comes from San Gorgonio, not San Jacinto.

[@bigtopnews4435]

This is what truly defines the meaning of a flash flood.

[@WenchInTheTinfoilHat]

Wow Always showing us how wild weather can truly be. And doing it with a great voice, also. Thank you.

[@tommunyon2874]

Reminds me of summer 1968 in northern New Mexico. A 500 year event dumped 5" of rain in a couple of hours. Rendia Canyon had a flow rate that almost equaled the Rio Grande itself.

[@christinab3019]

Some of these images are haunting. The debris was crazy. Hope all is well on the West coast.

[@mattmarino8727]

I am amazed at all the fire debris moving downstream. Also the immense size of the water flow. It's too bad that the State of California doesn't have the capacity nor the foresight to have debris removal contractors get to the end of where all this water stops and all the debris, grab that very fertile mixture and process it for fertilization for all the farming industry throughout the Yuma sector, and El Centro sectors. Will CA start a replanting of the burn areas to get the environment of wild life up and running again?

[@1charlastar886]

Tens of thousands acres were burned. I live in the low desert mountains near Whitewater. If any replanting is done, it will be by local people. The State is more concerned about other things like building $600,000 apartments for homeless and supplying them with drugs and needles while housing illegals and homeless in expensive hotels.

[@dukefurst5741]

@@1charlastar886 💯

[@tallmansfavorites7563]

Nature, when left to her own plan, will have already begun restoring the burn areas.The perception that humans have to restore everything immediately to how it was never works out well. The fires clear out underbrush and dead wood.The floods open up land,clearing out burn debris, and spread seed to regreen the area. The debris at the end helps retain the moisture and water that has percolated down into the natural water table and aquafers municipalities rely on

[@28th_St_Air]

@@1charlastar886god forbid money is spent to help people less fortunate than you.

[@AlexEs63]

Ask the Governor. In my 55 years, it's always been this way. They pocket the tax money and the water goes to the ocean. 😅

[@kathyh4804]

That’s amazing to see a hide boulder carried along like a child’s pool toy!!!!! Stay safe! What a sight to see!🌸

[@brendastrall8154]

WOW!!! Amazing strength is that water.

[@chasewyatt2014]

I will return to see Whitewater Canyon reshaped yet again. I moved to PS 30 years ago and while I have seen many flash floods and high water, I have never seen this level. I do remember that Thousand Palms had a flash flood many many years ago. Thanx for your footage

[@Lisargarza]

That is footage INSANE! I live in a flood-prone part of the country. But our floods involve water that rises in an orderly fashion. It enters homes politely, an inch at a time. None of this hell for leather stuff. Ridiculously scary.

[@Lisargarza]

You know what else I like about your video? You’re not having to bleep out every other word as you gaze on in astonishment or simply resorting to OMG, OMG, OMG. Intelligent comments where needed, otherwise, we can all just stand back in awe. Very professional.

[@funfreq9282]

I was just out there last weekend! There must have been a few hundred people hanging out in the water with their ez-ups beating the heat! What a stark contrast. I almost went out there Sunday to check it out what a crazy flow! My mom used to take my sister and I out there back in the 70's for picnics and to play in the stream.

[@TracyBetts12]

That's craziness! Thanks for all of your hard work bringing us these videos!! Stay safe! NSC!!!!

[@tommyosuccess7919]

Dr. Timmer and team thank you, you guys have gutz! Absolutely love it! I live in SE AZ and the weather is absolutely wonderful!

[@smurphy1841]

Thank you for doing this, it’s definitely something I couldn’t do but wanted to see ❤

[@suzettebavier4412]

I'm already a-sharin' this! wtg Reed, you're The Best of the best🏆

[@Vidchemy]

Thank you for sharing this amazing video. Also thanks for pointilng out the standing waves. I've seen a hydraulic jump, but not the standing waves. The people who leave laughing emojis or leave snarky comments about "fearful" people filling sandbags for a "summer storm" have no understanding or empathy that intense rainfall can overwhelm property drainage systems and can cause flooding.

[@nette4596]

Wow. Was watching you guys set up for this event. I live in the desert Palm Springs area and was surprised to see this flood! Thanks for your great coverage.

[@debrablevins5600]

Nice job Reed really you did a beautiful job on this flood. Thanks for being you. Much Love ❤😊

[@elizabethroberts6215]

……never known someone to get as excited about flood water coursing down a former dry gulch, as Dr Reed! He sure loves his work! I thoroughly enjoy his commentary, & watching the water, & debris flow go by. He’s certainly educational in his vocal discourse………🇦🇺

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

It's both magnificent and terrifying at the same time, bcoz it really shows just how highly potential this flood could become deadly to anything in its path. The loose soil, sand, mud & rocks were easily barrelling down the river bed.

[@onemoredoll5791]

I live close to this...like 2 miles. The oddest thing for us was the wind coming from the East and the gusts. Also super odd was seeing clouds come from the East. 10 freeway has been shut down now for 2 days due to the debris and water....that is not normal.

[@briangarrow448]

Just imagine if there were thousands of berms and catchment basins that could have collected even some of that water. The desert areas could have been irrigated naturally for months and recharged the aquifers all over that area. Sadly this type of event happens so rarely that nobody is interested in creating structures that can use water like this.

[@katiecoollady]

^this

[@-...Patricia...-]

Exactly!

[@boycott2720]

Ummm sweetheart, that wash is about as natural as it gets. What you are proposing is profoundly Unnatural. Leave it be.

[@briangarrow448]

@@boycott2720 I disagree with your opinion. Aquifer regeneration is a profoundly important issue that needs addressing.

[@meep2253]

@@briangarrow448 there are many dams an reservoirs in California. What are you talking about?

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Fascinating, Reed. Thanks for posting. It looks like a well-designed flood plain. Flood seems to be is right where planners intended it.

[@DeadZone2023Ghost]

Great live stream Reed Timmer 💯💯👍👍🌪️⚡

[@rubyred3860]

Superb job with the footage! Wow, it started out as a small trickling mud stream and grew into a full fledge river of mud and debris etc!!

[@katiecoollady]

I have a new appreciation for those giant stranded boulders and the force that brought them to their resting places... The flood would have had to be even 10 times this....

[@jackiefitzpatrick2906]

Great to see you ! Incredible video ! You got me started chasing tornadoes and I thank YOU for it. It's so exciting to chase them and see mother nature being a bad girl !

[@Ragnarok182]

People were complaining about the Audio? Considering what Reed was recording it sounded pretty damn good honestly, amazing Video Reed!

[@Buck1954]

Excellent example of the power of water. Watching the boulder tumbling was amazing. This is why you don't stand on a bridge to watch a flood.

[@BarryWinner2075]

great video, Isn't there a place where it flows right into the ground down towards Interstate 10 and replenishes the Coachella valley aquafer ? We used to live up in Yucca Valley and drive by there all the time. And the creek next to Highway 62 going down the Morongo Canyon used to rage during the rainstorms, it looked like something you would see next to a glacier in the Alps. My parents used to live in Palm Desert and we used to ride dirt bikes in the flood control basin next to Highway 111 back in the 1970's and 80's , One year the river was raging like 8 feet deep with full rapids, they had to repave all the roads that ran through the wash like Portola Avenue.

[@ReedTimmerWx]

It spreads out into an alluvial fan. I10 and lots of homes flooded out at the terminus of the canyon

[@BarryWinner2075]

@@ReedTimmerWx Thanks, and that's for sure about all the damage 1000 Palms had a mobile home park taken out with 5 feet of flood waters and there was a wind storm on El Paseo Rd that did a bunch of damage to the fancy stores, And all the roads crossing flood control basin near Hwy 111 look like they got taken out on KABC channel 7 news.

[@edwarddeering4934]

Holly Moses. I have always wanted to see something like this in this Whitewater wash. probably about 50 years of wondering what it would be like. Thanks for the video.

[@timbuckxxi9690]

That's been going on there for a long long LONG time...All the rocks are very rounded from centuries of rolling down the creek..Its a nice place to hangout in the hot summer months..

[@evangeline3152]

I had to stop watching the live stream so thank you for sharing this dramatic video. I knew you would capture the best video just like you always do. That’s amazing and frightening!

[@Julie_Rios]

Reed, thanks for your hard work & continued passion! Great footage. Shout out to your friend as well! ❤ from CA.

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

I once watched the Salt river go from a trickle to 60’ deep in 30 mins. It took out the bridge separating Mesa from Phoenix for weeks.

[@emwelder59]

Great job filming this rain storm,unbelievable the force of water flow, Glad you guys are safe 👍👍💯💯💯

[@looperdooper5969]

Great job Reed. The footage is incredible next time you should bring a tube and go rafting from the top of the mountain to Palm Springs.

[@annenamishia9902]

Reed I have watched you for years. Mostly the tornado ones. But I love anything weather that you do. This is really crazy

[@g-mat-bone4100]

WOW! 😮 It is amazing tho and cleansing the burn scars. Stay safe ✌

[@Madmun357]

I lived in Houston when we had three 500-year floods in five years. Nearly every time a heavy rain event occurred it flooded. But the bayous rose, it was never a flash flood. The local news ALWAYS called it flash flooding. They don't know what a flash flood is!

[@Ani_B.]

WOW 😳 I’ve heard of this but have not seen it before. Thanks Team Reed

[@Kairos318]

Amazing video, thank you! I live in the Mountaingate neighborhood and have been trying to explain to friends how crazy this storm was.

[@rosebudbaxter4671]

Leave it to Reed. Such a legend. Thank you for continuing to bring us the best live footage always! Hope you got some rest eventually!

[@thejammiebricker2327]

I watched almost your whole day of major California chasing & was so glad when you got your great footage of the flood. Patience and good decisions paid off. Happy chasing😊

[@CreativeWarrior-]

Over the I-10 freeway with mud, many roads with low spots washed out and/or buried in mud, a neighborhood in Cathedral City inundated with mud (wrecked!), mud, debris over the train tracks here in several areas including a derailment under the Gene Autry exit overpassing the I-10 freeway, sinkholes in various intersections in various towns, etc. This was no joke. My wife and I stayed home and we were fine. Our area has great drainage and the winds didn't lash us too badly. Others were not as fortunate and got HAMMERED!

[@mikemalo6336]

it never fails to blow my mind how just a foot deep of water can move such big/heavy things. that 6x3x3 ft granite boulder had to weigh a couple tons but it was skipping along with the water like it was on a conveyor belt.

[@M-Anfield-G-A]

Wow I’ve been to whitewater many times. Great footage and great preparation to be there before it hit 👍

[@xfirehurican]

Exclnt vid! Thought about driving down from JT to witness this. Even tho I drive a big 4×4, I reconsidered when the possibility of hwy 62 being blocked and not being able to get home came to mind. Heard later on that it was blocked for several hours!

[@barbstewart1490]

Wow!!!!! Really shows the power of water!!!!

[@radwinski]

This could easily be shown in many geology classses - crazy example of so many processes

[@jenine3124]

Thank you for filming this video. I ll be using this for my lesson about safety around rivers..etc

[@ImahSillyGirl]

5:55"Nice log" 😂 you're great Reed. 👍🏻

[@lancemarteen86]

The wildman always delivers the best footage. Stay safe out there.

[@ReedTimmerWx]

Thank you Lance - never stop chasing

[@Siddawgone]

Amazing job of being there and capturing this event! I witnessed it from La Quinta, where it was primarily trees downed.

[@trudy285]

Not sure what happened but I got bumped out of chat! 🤭 Great video Dr Reed! Never stop chasing! ☺️✌️❤️🦋🙏

[@pchelloo]

Reed, Reed, he's the man. If he can't get the footage, nobody can!

[@DeathValleyDazed]

Hiked this watershed as a kid in the 1960s so appreciate your video capturing the power of Nature.

[@sanfranciscobay]

0:06 Interesting how the River doesn't start small, it starts large and then gets larger.

[@ReedTimmerWx]

The flood arrived in 3-4 different surges

[@Rebellion594]

Moving boulders at least 1 ton with absolute ease crazy!!

[@paulhayes6920]

Thank you so much! After many years of studying, teaching and thinking about geography I finally got to see saltation in action. What struck me was how it was the collision with the log that got the boulder moving. When do you think it last moved? How many years before it moves again?

[@neogenmatrix6162]

who would have thought Reed's first Tropical intercept of 2023 would be in California....

[@Rollin.the.Wild.West.c14]

I was in fonts point Anza Borrego during the storm. What a great time to be alive.

[@robbee1205]

Now you're closer to our "neck of the woods"! Welcome to California and thanks for sharing this footage!

[@4cats1porcupine]

That is just insane! Stay safe.

[@onetuliptree]

Awesome! Some comments said it was just rain from the storm but that is powerful water full of logs and rocks and dirt.

[@karenlynn7731]

Wild! I've never seen anything like this. Wow! Stay safe

[@royjohnson366]

Congratulations!! After all that driving trying to spot a tornado, you got some dramatic footage of the flash flood. Amazing watching the boulders moving down the wash. Frickin' BOULDERS!!! Mother Nature... beware.

[@dannihardy7874]

Thank you for this video. I thought watching the boulder roll was amazing then the humongous tree roots came along at 4:05, and put the boulder rolling to shame. & still 4 minutes left. Mother nature and her surprises never cease to amaze me

[@hilariohernandez]

I was just in Palm Springs last month. During the drive from LA going into Palm Springs, I noticed the change in the landscape. I was wondering when was the last time it rained because it looked so dry.

[@blitztim6416]

Thanks for the footage. I was wondering how Whitewater River was doing. There has been a lot of water coming down that river since the heavy snow season we had this past winter. Those trees have to come some distance to reach that point.

[@lesleyM84]

Flashmob flash floods are NO joke.. they will take you out!!! what a great capture and super thrilling adventure you had here!!!

[@lesleyM84]

🌧🌧it turned that entire valley into a river of rrrrrrage!!!!!😡😡😡🌧🌧🌧🌧

[@schinoge9915]

Greetings from around the world, love u guys, u all do a great amazing Job

[@gowest5145]

There was a flashflood once just east of Denver and it washed a train away (I don't know how many cars) but the train was never found.

[@ReedTimmerWx]

Big Thompson Canyon had a monster flood in 2013

[@jackiemarsh2470]

Your Videos Never Stop Amazing me Reed!! Thank You So Much as Always!! God Bless!!

[@matchoo4050]

thats so cool you were there to see the beginning. I went out to Ocotillo Wells in San Diego and it was quite a sight! Boulders fell onto the 8 freeway as big as cars!