The main highway from Los Angeles to Phoenix was affected by a flash flood, which washed away part of the highway that cuts through the desert of Southern California.
The latest round of flooding began Wednesday night, damaging a road serving as a bypass for a repair project along eastbound Interstate 10 near the small community of Desert Center, about 165 miles to the east. of the Angels.
Traffic was stopped in both directions at the start of the flooding, but westbound lanes from Arizona to California reopened soon after.
All eastbound traffic was rerouted until the California Department of Transportation was able to reopen a lane of the freeway that was undergoing repairs.
Authorities asked the people, who were heading from Southern California, to use Interstates 8 or 40, which are major bypasses.
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Photos from the California Highway Service showed the water seeping through a deep indentation in the highway’s pavement. The flooding also affected other highways in the region, such as State Routes 177, 78 and 62.
A flash flood in the same area in July 2015 washed away a bridge on the east side of I-10 and eroded the ground under the westbound structure.
The National Weather Service said more flooding was possible through Thursday, across a wide swath of Southern California’s mountains and deserts.
Flash flooding this summer severely damaged roads in Death Valley National Park, the Mojave National Preserve, and the southern portion of Joshua Tree National Park.
Authorities described the August 5 flood in Death Valley as historic. Hundreds of visitors were initially stranded by floodwaters and debris-strewn roads. The park took about two weeks to reopen its most popular areas.