The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for southern Utah from noon Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday.
The “deep monsoonal moisture” over southern Utah will spread north on Friday, with a chance of additional tropical moisture moving into the area over the weekend, according to the weather service. “This will result in increasingly widespread showers and thunderstorms with a high chance of … heavy rain capable of flash flooding, particularly over southern Utah.”
Not only is flash flooding possible in slot canyons, normally dry washes, recent burn scars, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, but it’s possible in urban areas as well.
According to the weather service, heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding in the central mountains, Sevier Valley, the Bryce Canyon area, Capitol Reef National Park and vicinity, Glen Canyon Recreation Area and Lake Powell, south central Utah, the southern mountains, upper Sevier River valleys, western Canyonlands, lower Washington County, southwest Utah and Zion National Park.
(Iron County Sheriff’s Office) Flooding hit the Iron County jail on Thursday.
There’s a 70-80% chance of rain on Friday across the area.
The warning comes the day after flash floods hit multiple areas in southern Utah, including parts of both Zion National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. No injuries were reported.
In Cedar City, residents were mopping up on Friday morning after flooding hit homes, the Iron County jail and the Cedar City Hospital. According to a statement from Intermountain Health, the flooding “affected the south side of the hospital, including areas around the operating room.” Although the hospital remains operational and “patients are completely safe,” surgeries planned for Friday are being rescheduled.
(Intermountain Health) Flooding at Cedar City Hospital forced rescheduling of surgeries on Friday.
According to the National Weather Service, flash flooding is expected on Friday in Zion National Park, and probable in Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Glen Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Natural Bridges, Grand Gulch and San Rafael Swell. On Saturday, more flooding is expected in Zion; it’s probable in Capitol Reef, Glen Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Natural Bridges and Grand Gulch; and it’s possible in Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and San Rafael Swell.
In the Salt Lake City area, mostly sunny skies are expected Friday, with high temperatures in the upper 80s. Rain from a “monsoonal moisture surge” will move in on Friday night, and moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary may begin to affect the area later in the weekend into early next week. There’s a chance of showers, thunderstorms and heavy rain through at least Thursday.
