Flash Floods in the Area

2/28/2022 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of San Luis Obispo, we wanted to share some vital information on how thunderstorms and dangerous flash flooding are connected.

Slow moving thunderstorms may be the cause of most flash floods, often ones that move repeatedly over the same area, or heavy rains from tropical storms and hurricanes. Tropical storms do not often make their way to the central coast because of the cooler temperature in the Pacific Ocean.

If sudden heavy rain and rising standing water happens near you, it is advised that you avoid them if you can. If you are driving, the safest option is to pull over, turn on your hazard lights, and wait out the heavy rain conditions until the road is safer.

Once a flash flood develops, it becomes a force to be reckoned with. Flash floods can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges, and scour out new channels. Flood-producing rains can also trigger secondary events, such as landslides and mudslides.