Flood warning issued for southern Utah. And rain is expected across the state.
Monsoon moisture and the remnants of Hurricane Hilary are headed that way.
(Iron County Sheriff’s Office) Road flooding occurred Thursday near the Iron County Jail.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for southern Utah from noon Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday.
“Deep monsoon humidity” over southern Utah will spread north on Friday, with the possibility of additional tropical moisture entering the area over the weekend, according to the weather service. “This will result in increasingly widespread showers and thunderstorms with a high probability of … heavy rain that can result in flash flooding, particularly over southern Utah.”
Flash flooding is not only possible in slot canyons, normally dry river courses, fresh burn scars, creeks, creeks and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, but also in urban areas.
According to the weather service, heavy rains could cause flash flooding in the central mountains, Sevier Valley, Bryce Canyon area, Capitol Reef National Park area, Glen Canyon Recreation Area and Lake Powell, south-central Utah, south-central Utah Bergen and the Upper Sevier include River Valleys, Western Canyonlands, Lower Washington County, Southwest Utah and Zion National Park.
(Iron County Sheriff’s Office) Flooding hit the Iron County Jail Thursday.
On Friday there is a 70-80% chance of rain across the area.
The warning comes a day after flash flooding hit several areas in southern Utah, including parts of Zion National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. No injuries were reported.
In Cedar City, residents were busy mopping up Friday morning after flooding hit homes, the Iron County Jail and 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 scheduled for Friday are being postponed.
(Intermountain Health) Flooding at Cedar City Hospital forced surgeries to be postponed on Friday.
Flash flooding is expected in Zion National Park on Friday, according to the National Weather Service, likely also in Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Glen Canyon, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Natural Bridges, Grand Gulch and San Rafael Swell. More flooding is expected in Zion on Saturday; it is likely 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.
Predominantly sunny skies with high temperatures of over 80°C are expected in the Salt Lake City area on Friday. A “monsoon moisture surge” will bring rain on Friday night, and moisture from the remnant of Hurricane Hilary could begin impacting the area later this weekend into early next week. Showers, thunderstorms and heavy rain are possible at least until Thursday.
