A string of storms this fall left Death Valley doing what it rarely does: collecting rainwater.
The National Weather Service says this was the wettest fall on record for the park — September through November totaled 2.41 inches — and November itself set a new mark at 1.76 inches, topping the old November record of 1.70 inches from 1923. That’s more rain than the valley typically sees in a year, and at Badwater Basin — 282 feet below sea level — the runoff pooled into a shallow, walkable lake people are calling Lake Manly. It’s small and shoe-top shallow in most spots, much less dramatic than the lake that followed Hurricane Hilary in 2024, and it sits about a mile from the Badwater parking lot. The storms hit hard: sections of pavement were buried or scoured away after the November 15 storm, and more rain on November 18 produced additional flooding and closures.
All that water also complicates visitors’ plans. Several park roads were closed by flood debris and erosion, and unpaved tracks can be impassable; some open routes may still show standing water, debris, or road equipment. A wet fall raises hopes for a spring wildflower display, but rain is only one ingredient — timing, temperature, and seedbed conditions matter too, so it’s far too early to promise a superbloom. If you’re headed into the valley, check current conditions at nps.gov/deva, expect changed road conditions, travel with recovery gear and plenty of water, and be prepared to self-rescue or turn back.
After a season like this, the desert rewards respect more than curiosity. Be safe.