Over the past week, torrential rain storms and atmopheric river events have had a near-apocalyptic impact on many parts of Southern California. The normally arid region has been hit with months’ worth of rain over the past few days, leading to mudslides and widespread flooding from Los Angeles to San Diego. Not even Death Valley, the driest place in the United States, was spared from the deluge.
But while the storms have led to chaos across various SoCal metro areas, the recent rainfall has created something eerie yet magical in Death Valley’s once-arid Badwater Basin. Temporarily transformed from a parched desert into a large lake, Badwater Basin looked positively psychedelic at sunset on February 3.
Incredible! With the water spreading over the salt flats in all directions, Death Valley doesn’t even look like Death Valley here. It frankly looks like an alien landscape altogether, with the water’s jade-green hue contrasting with the glowing red-orange of the sunset against the hilltops. TikTok user @maggierrojas, who filmed this otherworldy tableau, drove 4.5 hours from Rancho Cucamonga to see the typically bone-dry national park in truly rare form!
Maggie’s followers were totally enthralled, and as Maggie herself admitted in the caption that pictures and videos don’t do the scenery justice, a lot of them wanted to see it for themselves.
“When was this? I’m hoping to make it out there before it dries up,” asked @jeanettalucifer.
“This was on Saturday!” Maggie replied. “Death Valley is getting a storm this week so I suggest waiting until it passes, and check the NPS website ahead of time to ensure there is no road damage or closures!”
As for how long the water is supposed to stick around, Maggie is optimistic that prospective visitors will have a little bit of leeway: “I’m sure it will be there for another while due to the current storm. Although, it gets very hot in summer so it could possibly dry up by then.”
Seeing Death Valley’s Temporary Lake Before It Dries Up
Death Valley is currently under a winter storm warning today, and rain will likely continue in the area through tomorrow. Once the park is safe to traverse, however, it’s likely that a lot of people will show up to witness the ephemeral lake- that is, if they can.
After Tropical Storm Hilary late last August, Badwater Basin was similarly transformed into a shallow saltwater lake. However, NPR reported that most of the roads were damaged in the storm, and the park was closed for nearly two months. By the time Death Valley reopened in late October, the lake, while still present, was already beginning to evaporate away. Thankfully, recent rainstorms have replenished the lake’s dwindling waters, giving park visitors more chances to see it.
The question now is whether California’s ongoing deluges will wash out the roads and keep the park off-limits again. At this time, the National Park Service reports that several of the park’s roads, including Badwater Road, remain open. However, prospective visitors may want to check the site again for updates after the storms have passed later this week.
If you plan on going to Death Valley soon, check the forecast, check with the National Park Service, and pack accordingly for the trip. Should luck be on your side and the roads remain open, you’ll get a rare chance to see this stunning, ephemeral lake in the country’s driest desert before it fades away to salt flats once more.