The El Niño rains have saturated the ground in southeastern Arizona, and new rainfall flows off quickly, producing hazardous road conditions. The van in this picture was being driven on Happy Valley Road in the Eastern Rincon Mountains Feb. 23 when the driver tried to cross a flooded wash. The current pushed the back end of the van downstream, rotating it about 110 degrees so that it pointed directly up stream. The driver could not open the doors because of the water pressure, but was able to climb out the window and, holding on to the strap, get away from the vehicle. He then walked to a rancher’s house on a cold, wet night.
[Thanks to AZGS geologist Jon Spencer for the description and photo]