Flood warnings remain in Utah – and it’s getting hot

Man rescued after fall in Jordan

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As temperatures rise and snow melts, several areas of Utah are experiencing mild to moderate flooding — and authorities are keeping an eye on several other locations as well.

flood warnings

• A flood warning remains in place for the southern branch of the Ogden River near Huntsville. According to the National Weather Service, the river will be in a minor flooding stage until further notice.

Officials on Sunday ordered the eviction of two homes due to local flooding; 10 others were evacuated voluntarily. According to Weber County officials, dozens of homes have been affected by the flooding.

A bridge on the river above Huntsville is washed away by the flood. Weber County said crews are working to divert the current around the bridge to prevent it from being washed away and potentially blocking the Weber River downstream.

The flood warning is expected to last for several days.

• A flood warning remains in effect along the Bear River in eastern Rich County. Moderate flooding is expected to continue on farmland and roads adjacent to the river from below Woodruff Narrows Reservoir to the Utah-Wyoming border.

The warning is in effect until Monday morning and may be extended.

• A flood warning remains in effect for the Sevier River near Hatch until further notice, affecting Kane, Sevier, Garfield, Iron and Piute Counties.

According to the National Weather Service, snowmelt and increased reservoir runoff will result in high river runoff and minor flooding is expected, and some bridges and low-lying structures will suffer minor flood damage.

• A flood warning is in effect until 7:45 pm Thursday along the Strawberry River, which empties into Strawberry Reservoir in Wasatch County.

Flooding is currently making access to the Strawberry Reservoir marina difficult. The Weather Service warned those traveling there: “Turn back and don’t drown if you encounter flooded roads.” Most deaths from flooding occur in vehicles.”

• Flood warnings are in place for the Blacksmith Fork River near Hyrum and the Bear River near Corinne until further notice.

Man falls in the Jordan

South Salt Lake Police said a 30-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition Sunday after falling “while playing on the bank” of the Jordan River around 4:15 p.m.

First responders entered the river to save him. There was no information on his condition as of Monday morning.

South Salt Lake Police urged “extreme caution near our streams and rivers.” … With record-breaking snowmelt, our streams and rivers are flowing higher and faster. This makes accidental falls significantly more dangerous.”

Temperatures will rise

According to the National Weather Service, high pressure is building over Utah that will trigger a “warming trend” that will bring temperatures well above normal in much of the state.

The Salt Lake City area is forecast to have high temperatures in the low to mid 80s through Friday and even warmer temperatures over the weekend — 88C on Saturday and 90C on Sunday, according to weather forecasts. That’s 10 to 15 degrees above normal for this time of year, and the warmer temperatures will accelerate the melting of Utah’s record snowpack.

There is a 20% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms Monday through Wednesday and a 50% chance on Thursday.

Southern Utah will also be about 5 degrees hotter than normal this week. Temperatures of around 90°C are expected in the St. George area next weekend. Not much precipitation is expected, but there is a small chance of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday.

Elsewhere in Utah

• Salt Lake County and the Utah Department of Transportation are working to protect the Big Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant from possible flooding.

• State Route 89 through Spanish Fork Canyon is expected to reopen sometime Monday. In Thistle it was closed due to flooding.

• Garland City’s Feedwater Treatment Plant continues to be affected by flooding. The overflow is pumped out of the sewage treatment plant in northeast Box Elder County.

• The Bureau of Reclamation, Utah Division of Water Resources and Cache County continue to monitor the spillway at Hyrum Dam, near the southeast corner of Hyrum City, for possible high-water discharges into the Little Bear River.

• The Bureau of Reclamation still monitors Causey Reservoir, 15 miles northeast of Ogden. The overflow into the overflow began on May 4th and is ongoing.