The weather looks good this weekend. The risk of flooding will decrease – temporarily.
Cooler temperatures will slow snowmelt.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Flooding at Orchard Ridge Lane in Kaysville on Wednesday April 12, 2023.
The threat of more flooding in Utah is far from over, but the weather forecast for the weekend and early next week isn’t particularly alarming.
Meteorologists and elected officials are warning the state is facing more flooding as the state’s record snowpack melts. Gov. Spencer Cox said: “We are certain that these flood conditions will continue for the coming months.”
In the short term, however, temperatures on Friday are expected to be in the low 50s, about 10 degrees below normal, according to the National Weather Service. Highs will be in the low 60s on Saturday, pretty normal for this time of year.
And the warming trend will continue on Sunday as temperatures reach the low 70s.
On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, people along 1700 South in Salt Lake City work to protect homes from the rising flow of Emigration Creek through Wasatch Hollow Park. As rapid snowmelt and possible April showers fuel fears of severe flooding in the Northern Plains, state officials are announcing flood mitigation plans, and residents are assembling thousands — if not hundreds of thousands — of sandbags to fight flooding themselves. (Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
“Current cooler weather has helped slow snowmelt,” the weather service said, “but warming will bring back some potential for flooding concerns early next week.”
“Overall, however, warming should not be as severe” as what Utah experienced earlier this week — temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s, including a record high of 83 on Tuesday.
Emigration Creek fell below high water level Thursday and is expected to remain there at least until early next week, according to the National Weather Service. Water flow out of Wasatch Hollow and down the streets in the 1700 East and 1700 South area has slowed significantly.
The creek peaked at about 155 cubic feet per second Wednesday night — the flood level is 130 cfs — and a peak of about 110 cfs is expected Monday.
Temperatures are expected to be in the low 70s on Monday, but they won’t stay there for long. A cold front is expected to move into the state, dropping temperatures to the mid-50s on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The forecast calls for rain in the valleys and rain and snow in the mountains Monday night through Tuesday morning, but not much precipitation is expected. There is also a low risk of precipitation on Wednesday and Thursday.
Heading into the weekend, several areas of the state are grappling with flooding. In Ogden, Fort Buenaventura Park was closed after the Weber River burst its banks in the area. And communities in Salt Lake City, Parley’s Canyon, Millcreek, Kearns and Kaysville continue to monitor potential flooding.
