Storm claims a 560SEL
 

Massive storm all over the Phoenix Metro area. Just drove thru what looked like a vast inland sea on my way in to work. Unfortunately the driver of a 560SEL seemed to think they could make it thru the deepest part of a flooded street. Car was stuck in about a foot of water over on the far right of the street. You'd have thought they would have figured out to follow the rest of the traffic in the center of the street where the crown of the road means it's at it's shallowest. Most unfortunate.

- Peter.

Ahh the monsoons of Arizona. I have experienced them in Tucson myself.

However, NOT the joys of hydrolock.

Sounds like one more 560SEL is headed for the junk yard due to the foolishness of its driver..

Or he could fix it and get a personalized license plate to commemorate his service as a U-boat commander. I just checked and U505 is available in Arizona.

Tucson's getting hammered worse than the valley right now. Check these normally dry streams going vertical.

Rillito Creek. Zero to 13K CFS in a heartbeat.
http://i59.tinypic.com/6f5phf.jpg

Rio Santa Cruz gauge downtown
http://i59.tinypic.com/2zyzqsk.jpg

Swift water rescue in Oracle, just outside Tucson
http://i59.tinypic.com/24v5tnp.jpg

Here's the normally nearly dry Salt River at the Priest Rd. gauge in Tempe, not far from ASU. It actually peaked at >14K CFS at the 7th st. gauge this morning. It's been raining steadily here all day, but it's gentle, stratiform rain. No sturm und drang to speak of. I have 2 inches in my gauge and the creek hasn't come up. Pastures are standing water. The beasts are not amused. One more dlkhead says "ooh but we neeeeeed the rain" to me Ima deck him.
http://i61.tinypic.com/11vtxu0.png

I sincerely hope all the jackasses in stranded cars get real big bills from whoever rescues them.

Hey ElChivito, if you don't want the rain, suppose you could send some our way? Even our normally wet creeks are going dry.

MV

Hah, it's the car dealerships that are drooling and adding to the moisture levels . . . what better way to get rid of the 2014 models than insurance coverage. ;)

Yeah. My father in laws in Vail, just east of Tucson. He says he's had enough. But according to the radar he's still getting hammered. Myself I'd love more but I suspect even if we do get some more it wont be like last nights.

I don't think those cars stuck on I-10 had much of a chance. By the time you are on that stretch of highway you're below the surface streets and there's no where to go.

- Peter.

A profoundly stupid freeway design. My father was a flood engineer. I have an old AZ Republic newspaper clipping from the 40s wherein he was hired as a consultant by the city. They laughed at his drainage recommendations. It doesn't rain in the desert, no. :rolleyes:

http://i62.tinypic.com/2r7wugi.jpg

90 minutes of Tucson cloud activity in 36 seconds, from the U of A dept. of environmental science. That's some wet shlt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=p6_7xMNBOJY

From 0-14000cfs in such a short period of time is something I'd like to see. (from high up)

That's on him. Shame about the 560SEL. Idiots shouldn't own nice cars. :(

How many of those cars will be totaled due to flooding, sent to auction, get "cleaned up" - INCLUDING a "washed" salvage title in some easy to title state like Alabama, to then, months later to rise phoenix-like (Sorry!) resplendent on used car lots touting a "bargain price & excellent condition"***


Almost a heartwarming American tradition, like a replay of the "Katrina" cars not that long ago. THOSE pots showed up for sale all over the country, after a period of time.



















***excellent condition, that is, only in the continent of Atlantis

What I did find amazing looking at the video footage of all this is how many cars and trucks were able to drive thru water with waves up over their hoods and yet suffer no apparent problems. I would have thought without any doubt they would all have hydro locked but no. Many were able to drive right on out of it. And I don't mean just a little water up over the bumper, I mean right up over the hood.

- Peter.

Some cars are rare ,the 560 was also introduced into the sl package ,question ??? How rare is an 87 560sl euro worth ? and would it float?Did I mention rare!