You'd think the Mojave River, being in the middle of Southern California's harsh desert, would remain dry or see just a trickle of water, at most. But not today. Here's what the river looked like after the region was lashed with severe rainstorms. This is off Route 66 near Helendale: More storm and flood coverage … Continue reading This is supposed to be a desert
Category: Weather
Tornadoes strike near Flagstaff
Two tornadoes touched down Wednesday in the Route 66 village of Bellemont, Ariz., west of Flagstaff, causing widespread damage, according to varying northern Arizona media outlets. One of the casualties was the Camping World on Route 66 in Bellemont. About 30 RVs were blown over and scattered debris over Interstate 40. A freight train was blown off … Continue reading Tornadoes strike near Flagstaff
Flash flooding reported in Flagstaff
A cloudburst Friday in the Flagstaff, Ariz., caused scattered flash flooding around the city, including standing water at the Milton Road underpass on Route 66, reported the Arizona Daily Sun. The mid-afternoon bursts led the Coconino County Sheriff's Office to temporarily close Highway 89 between Silver Saddle Road and Sunset Crater, along with several other … Continue reading Flash flooding reported in Flagstaff
Notes from the road
It wasn't a pleasant afternoon or evening in the St. Louis region for Route 66 travelers -- or for any travelers, for that matter. Two to four inches of rain fell in a short time Wednesday afternoon, causing flash flooding in low-lying areas, according to various media reports. That included several feet of water at … Continue reading Notes from the road
Flagstaff fire is under control
After a number of tense days, the massive Schultz wildfire north of Flagstaff, Ariz., is finally contained. R. Sean Evans, an archivist at the Cline Library at Northern Arizona University in town, sent this e-mail on Thursday: The containment now is complete, and the total acreage burned is somewhere north of 15,000 acres (or 23 … Continue reading Flagstaff fire is under control
Wildfires surround much of Flagstaff
Many residents of Flagstaff, Ariz., are on edge Sunday evening because of wildfires around the city that closed a major highway and caused evacuations, according to varying news reports. A 3,000-acre fire north of town has forced the closure of U.S. Highway 89 north of town, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. Another fire Saturday … Continue reading Wildfires surround much of Flagstaff
Severe flooding hits Oklahoma City region
Severe floods closed highways, snarled traffic, and inundated homes and businesses throughout the Oklahoma City region after 7 to 10 inches of rain fell Monday, according to varying news reports. And the worst part is that more rain is expected Monday night into Tuesday morning. Many roads remain impassable in Oklahoma City as of Monday … Continue reading Severe flooding hits Oklahoma City region
Storm ravages Route 66 Festival in Edwardsville
A severe storm struck the Route 66 Festival area in Edwardsville, Ill., on Saturday afternoon, forcing the cancellation of the rest of the event after several tents were blown over and festival-goers ran for cover. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, the storm came with nasty winds and 1-inch hail. Witnesses said children were crying as … Continue reading Storm ravages Route 66 Festival in Edwardsville
Volcano disrupts Europeans’ travel to 66
I was afraid that the eruption of the Icelandic volcano that sent ash over a wide swath of Europe and grounded flights would eventually make an impact on Route 66 tourism, and it has. Ellie Alexander, tourism director for the City of Pontiac, Ill., told me by e-mail that several European travelers had to cancel … Continue reading Volcano disrupts Europeans’ travel to 66
Notes from the road
If you're traveling the Mother Road this week, you may have to make other plans for the midsection. As this map from the National Weather Service shows, the Route 66 corridor is under a winter storm warning all the way from about Springfield, Mo., to Gallup, N.M. -- much of it freezing rain. Authorities closed … Continue reading Notes from the road