00:00Parts of Arizona and Nevada could receive up to 8 inches of rain from Rachel.
00:04But across the drought-stricken southwest, that rainfall comes with a serious risk.
00:09Rachel, which previously reached Category 1 hurricane strength,
00:13made landfall in northwestern Mexico before its remnants moved inland.
00:18AccuWeather forecasts 1 to 4 inches of rain across a broad area,
00:22with 4 to 8 inches possible in some mountainous locations.
00:25The concern is flash flooding.
00:27Normally, dry desert channels, known as arroyos,
00:31can quickly become torrents carrying rocks, branches, and mud.
00:35Road washouts, sudden rock slides, and damaging wind gusts are also possible.
00:39Yet the storm could bring some benefits.
00:41Rainfall may reduce wildfire danger and send additional runoff toward Lake Powell and Lake Mead,
00:47which experienced historically low water levels this summer.
00:50The challenge is that heavy rain can provide drought relief,
00:53while creating dangerous conditions within hours.
00:56The amount and location of rainfall will determine how much of each outcome the region experiences.
01:02Disclosure.
01:03This video contains stock footage and content created, or enhanced, using AI-assisted tools.
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