Practice Canceled: Flash Flooding in Fontana

[Mari Clements]

Eric is at the Speedway now, and he says the lake is deeper than we've ever seen it (something about water up three light poles).

The weather channel said that between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m., Fontana may receive as much as 3/4 to 1 inch of rain PER HOUR.

[Matt Mikhail]

Too bad. It was looking promising as I was driving up Cherry (which was flooded just about the entire way up). I suppose it wouldn't have been too good to be driving in water thats as high as my air filter.

[Jason Flores]

Our ST civic barely made it past the first "river" north of the 10fwy....they my co-driver called as i was waiting my turn to pass the Valley blvd "river" and e told me to go home....good thing because all i could see all the way down cherry were cars making waves as big as our little civic and I putted back to the fwy I could hear the bubbles that the exhaust was making, i guess a good thing maybe it was helping propel me forward...im all dry now =)

[Matt Mikhail]

Your not kidding. ;)
It was fun to pass all the Suburbans that were 'stuck' in the middle of the road with their emergency lights on

[Doug Teulie]

Eric is at the Speedway now, and he says the lake is deeper than we've ever seen it (something about water up three light poles).

The weather channel said that between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m., Fontana may receive as much as 3/4 to 1 inch of rain PER HOUR.

Lake Fontanna's water level should back to healthy reserve status by the looks of the water level at our house.

[Robert Puertas]

Since the forecast calls for solid rain until noon tomorrow, this does not bode well for the Championship...

[Doug Teulie]

I saw rapids on cherry once several years ago before a practice. It was amazing.

Kathy

[Kurt Rahn]

I saw rapids on cherry once several years ago before a practice. It was amazing.

Kathy

Rapids is a good description. On the older section of Cherry between the 210 freeway and the speedway, the right-hand lane was literally a river.

[Steve Ekstrand]

If Lake Fontucky was that bad at 7am, what is it like after two more inches of rain following that???

Next question as rain tapers off... How fast is it draining?

Since the lake grew higher this time than past serious storms, I gotta think the problem isn't the amount coming down but more likely clogged up drainage issues.

Damn that Anthropogenic Flooding!

[Dan Shaw]

I don't imagine the flooding is being hindered at all if the sewage blocks are coming from our recently torched hillsides. Reminds me of 2006!

[Mako Koiwai]

We went back to the Speedway at 10:15 to pick up the Vette (after the Denny's Party) ... the water hadn't subsided at all ... and it was starting to rain again. Suppose to be a break in the rain until about 2 PM.

[George Schilling]

Driving to AAA this morning was quite an experience. I had some older 615's on the car. Got on the freeway and at about 40 mph it felt like the first time I ever put on ice skates. Joey was behind me in the van. He said it looked like I had no control at all. He was right. We got off at the next ramp and put on the Star Specs. It was a better but still a challenging drive to the speedway. Speeds ranged between 50 and 60 most of the time. Along the 50 mile route, I must have seen 10 totaled vehicles along with several that had damage after losing control. Yet, some cars were still flying be at high speed. I found this more frightening than flying in heavy turbulence. In the air, the concern is keeping the plane right side up. Holding altitude is impossible. But even in the air, we slow the plane down to maneuvering speed to reduce stress on the airframe. Though it can be quite nerve wracking, there's not much worry about hitting anything as long as the plane holds together. On the freeway, my concern was being hit by the fruitcakes who think that 80 is an appropriate speed in pouring rain with 100" visibility. The S2000 with max'd out camber is definitely not a freeway flier.

North bound on Cherry was another challenge. The south bound side not as bad. Going north, there were areas where even at the crest of road, the water was 4" deep, 12" - 18" deep at the curb in some areas.

The lake in lot 12 was the largest I have ever seen. Eric purposely set up the course to avoid the normal flood area yet we still lost half the course. I'll check the lake later today and see how the drainage is progressing. As long as it looks like it's going down at a reasonable pace, we'll be running tomorrow. I'll report back later with the prognoses..

[Mako Koiwai]

I think Pete got shots of a bunch of confused sea gulls bobbing on the water ... no, Lake Fontana is NOT the Pacific! I think this is about 1,000' X 500' of flooded Green Lot

[Mako Koiwai]

"Your message contains too few characters."

[Darren Cole]

So the next question is will we cancel tomorrow?

It is supposed to be raining in the morning again.

[Steve Ekstrand]

Is it wrong to pray for flooding???

[George Schilling]

So the next question is will we cancel tomorrow?

It is supposed to be raining in the morning again.

At this moment we're planning on running, but a lot depends on the drainage rate of the lake. The accuweather forecast calls for light rain which shouldn't be a problem if the lake drains. But if it's dammed off, drainage could be a problem. The sun is out as I write this.

[Rick Brown]

So the next question is will we cancel tomorrow?

It is supposed to be raining in the morning again.

At this moment we're planning on running, but a lot depends on the drainage rate of the lake. The accuweather forecast calls for light rain which shouldn't be a problem if the lake drains. But if it's dammed off, drainage could be a problem. The sun is out as I write this.

Obviously everyone needs to check here tonight and in the morning. George will be on top of it.

I will send out a mass email from AXWare to all those pre-registered to do so.

[Kurt Rahn]

"Your message contains too few characters."

Bizarre to see the cones just disappear under the water as the pavement slopes.

[Chad Stubblefield]

What are those two giant drainage tunnels for?
They dont seem to be working. :mrt:

[Mako Koiwai]

I wonder if they cleaned out the debris after the lake got filled last time.

[Chad Stubblefield]

:mrt:

Do we still pay for the lot when this happens?

[Tom Denham]

How many cones are stuck in the Drain pipe

[Bill Martin]

I wonder if they cleaned out the debris after the lake got filled last time.

I was told they don't lead to an out-channel. The water just builds up on the other side until it evaporates, I guess.

[Rick Brown]

:mrt:

Do we still pay for the lot when this happens?

As long a no one takes a lap, no.