The risk of flooding remains as the weather cools
The search for a woman who was swept away by the Weber River on Monday continues.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) From left, Salt Lake City public utility investigators Scott Swager, Brad Jeppson, Andy Gonzales and Kenny Rigby check in at Red Butte Creek near Sunnyside Park, around Wednesday , May 3, 2023 to remove debris. With this year’s record snowpack, resources have been added for 24-hour monitoring to prevent potentially catastrophic flooding by keeping streams clear of debris that could clog the system.
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Though temperatures began to cool Thursday and snowmelt has slowed, the state’s waterways will “continue to experience increased currents” through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
After a string of days that stretched into the 80s, high temperatures in the mid-70s are expected in the Salt Lake City area on Thursday. Highs in the mid-60s are expected Friday through Sunday and lows through the mid-70s are expected Monday through Wednesday.
Rain is likely on Thursday, with a “minor risk” of severe thunderstorms. And along the Wasatch Front there is at least a small chance of rain and thunderstorms any day through Wednesday.
(National Weather Service) Thunderstorms are possible in northern Utah Thursday afternoon.
The search for a woman swept away by the river continues
Authorities are still searching for the body of a woman who fell into the raging Weber River near Uintah on Monday and was swept away.
Libby Stimpson, 28, was walking her dogs when she fell in the water, according to her family. “She loved those dogs,” said her sister Laura Trumbo. “They were basically her children.”
The dogs returned home wet but unharmed, but searchers have found no sign of Stimpson as of Thursday morning.
Emigration Creek flow slows
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City Public Utilities Electricity Assessment Investigators Dave Ward and Araceli Arche check in Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at an Emigration Creek pinch point grid near 1300 South . With this year’s record snowpack, resources have been added for 24-hour monitoring to prevent potentially catastrophic flooding by keeping streams free of debris and debris that can clog the system.
Emigration Creek, which peaked at about 150 cubic feet per second overnight Wednesday through Thursday morning — 20 cfs above its flood level — is expected to remain below flood level through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Sugar House Park, which serves as a flood detention basin, will remain closed to vehicles until at least May 14.
Flooding on the Ogden River
There is a “moderate” risk of flooding near Huntsville along the south fork of the Ogden River through next week.
The river will peak at 5.3 feet Friday morning — 0.7 feet above high water stage — and then remain in high water stage through most of next week, according to the Weather Service.
Monitoring of the Hyrum Dam continues
The US Bureau of Reclamation continues to monitor the spill at Hyrum Dam – on the Little Bear River, about 9 miles southwest of Logan – 24 hours a day, while operators are releasing “a large volume of water” to control the Hyrum Reservoir water level.
Warm temperatures “have significantly increased snowmelt and runoff into the reservoir,” officials said.
The office stands ready to “take immediate action” if needed at the dam, which was built in 1935.
Floods in southern Utah
According to the weather service, there is also a “moderate” risk of flooding on the Sevier River near Hatch until Friday evening.
After peaking at nearly 4.3 feet Thursday morning – 0.6 feet above high water level – the river is expected to remain near high water level through Friday evening.
— This is an evolving story. Check for updates again.
