Key facts
- Alert
- Flash Flood Warning (severe)
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Las Vegas NV
- Areas
- Inyo, CA; San Bernardino, CA
- In effect
- until 7:45 PM PDT, Oct 21, 2026
What the National Weather Service says
“Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
NWS Las Vegas NV, Flash Flood Warning, 7:39 PM PDT Oct 21, 2026 · official alert
“Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.”
NWS Las Vegas NV, Flash Flood Warning, 7:39 PM PDT Oct 21, 2026 · official alert
“Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks.”
NWS Las Vegas NV, Flash Flood Warning, 7:39 PM PDT Oct 21, 2026 · official alert
What to do
Do not drive into flooded roads. The National Weather Service says most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
Move to higher ground and stay away from streams, rivers and creeks, which can rise fast in heavy rain. Campers and hikers should avoid streams and creeks.
Never drive around barricades. Avoid underpasses and low-lying roads while the warning is in effect, which is until 7:45 PM PDT.
Context
The warning covers Inyo and San Bernardino counties. FEMA flood-insurance claims count only insured properties, so they do not show all flood damage. Inyo County has 4 claims from 1982 to 2012. San Bernardino County has 867 claims from 1978 to 2025.
Both counties have had federal disaster declarations that involved flooding. These include a 2023 declaration for severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in both counties, and one for Tropical Storm Hilary in Inyo County.
Updates
- The flash flood warning expired at 7:45 PM PDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the flash flood warning; it remains in effect until 7:45 PM PDT.
- The National Weather Service updated the flash flood warning; it remains in effect until 7:45 PM PDT.
- NWS Las Vegas NV issued the flash flood warning until 7:45 PM PDT.
History here
Inyo County: 4 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1982, most recent 2012.
Inyo County: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4750 (2023): tropical storm hilary
- DR-4699 (2023): severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4683 (2023): severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4305 (2017): severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides
- DR-4301 (2017): severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides
San Bernardino County: 867 flood insurance claims in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program records since 1978, most recent 2025.
San Bernardino County: recent federal disaster declarations
- DR-4699 (2023): severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides
- DR-4569 (2020): wildfires
- DR-1952 (2011): severe winter storms, flooding, and debris and mud flows
- DR-1884 (2010): severe winter storms, flooding, and debris and mud flows
- DR-1731 (2007): wildfires, flooding, mud flows, and debris flows
Get these alerts on your iPhone
Herebeat is an iPhone app that shows official alerts like these (National Weather Service warnings, earthquakes, wildfires, air quality and more) for the places you save, each with its source and issue time. Download Herebeat on the App Store.
Questions
- Is there a flash flood warning in Inyo County, California?
- Yes. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas issued a Flash Flood Warning at 4:46 PM PDT on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. It covers south central Inyo County and runs until 7:45 PM PDT.
- Is Furnace Creek affected by the flash flood warning?
- Yes. The National Weather Service names Furnace Creek among the locations that will experience flash flooding. Radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the warned area.
- How serious is this flash flood warning?
- The National Weather Service describes it as life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses. The alert is rated Severe, with an Immediate urgency and a considerable damage threat.
Sources
- NWS Las Vegas NV: Flash Flood Warning, Oct 21, 2026 weather.gov
- FEMA OpenFEMA: NFIP claims and disaster declarations fema.gov
How this page is made. The Herebeat Hazard Desk builds event pages from official U.S. government data (National Weather Service, USGS, FEMA). The text is written with AI from that data; every number and quote is checked against the official source automatically before publishing, and the page is updated when the agency updates the event. The official source is always the reference. Spotted a mistake? info@herebeat.app. About the Hazard Desk.