Scattered thunderstorms brought heavy rainfall to mountain communities affected by the Cranston Fire Thursday, leading authorities to issue evacuation orders for mountain residents and the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood watch for the region, including the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass.
The flood warning covered the San Bernardino National Forest, recently besieged by the 13,139-acre arson-caused Cranston fire, as well as the Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass.
The warning advised there would be heavy rainfall, with flooding “likely” in the Idyllwild-Pine Cove area and state Routes 74 and 243 near Idyllwild.
While rainfall did make its presence Thursday afternoon, the NWS cancelled the flood warning just after 4 p.m., as the heavy rains ended after just a few hours in the burn area, with flooding not expected to pose a significant threat.
A less serious flash flood watch remains in effect until 8 p.m., warning of the possibility of isolated flash flooding in some areas.
Near the Cranston burn area, where the brush fire was raged for more than two weeks before full containment was reached last week, evacuation orders were issued early Thursday afternoon for the communities of Hurkey Creek, Apple Canyon, Fleming Ranch and Strawberry Creek. The orders were lifted at 5 p.m., but residents were advised to drive with caution while returning home.
Authorities also closed down several roads near the burn area, including state Route 74 east at the Cranston Fire Station, state Route 243 at Saunders Meadow Road and state Route 74 north at Morris Ranch, according to the Riverside County Emergency Management Department. Authorities also reopened the roads late Thursday afternoon.
A similar flood warning was issued Wednesday afternoon for residents living in the Cranston Fire burn area. An evacuation order was issued for some residents, but was lifted after about an hour when rainfall in the area ceased.
Regional rainfall was expected to decrease starting Friday afternoon, but could return around Monday or Tuesday, following a sunny weekend, forecasters said.