Storms bring hail, thunder, lightning, wind, flooding and power outages
Aug 18, 2021, 9:34 AM | Updated: 2:54 pm
UPDATE: The National Weather Service alerted Wasatch Front residents to the potential for more strong storms on Wednesday.
One of the latest flash flood warnings involves Utah County and lasts through 4:30 p.m.
Flash Flood Warning including Utah County, UT until 4:30 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/IQ1x9ZsTiJ
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 18, 2021
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning went out for the communities of Eureka, Vernon and Lofgreen, Utah, running through 1:30 p.m.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Eureka UT, Vernon UT, Lofgreen UT until 1:30 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/LtsYnjCxU0
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 18, 2021
Forecasters issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Salt Lake and Utah Counties, running from 12:10 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. on Wednesday.
Additionally, the National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for parts of Garfield and Wayne County, especially around Capitol Reef National Park.
Flash Flood Warning including Garfield County, UT, Wayne County, UT until 3:15 PM MDT pic.twitter.com/Fm5OL4trNl
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 18, 2021
⚠️If you haven’t heard, we have multiple weather threats today across Utah and southwest WY. First, severe thunderstorms are possible, meaning thunderstorms capable of large hail and damaging winds. Here is the threat area from the experts at the NWS Storm Prediction Center #utwx pic.twitter.com/YVCKns0aCX
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 18, 2021
At the same time, these thunderstorms will be capable of heavy rain and bring the threat of flash flooding, especially for burn scars and slot canyons. Here’s @NWSWPC‘s threat areas, and area Flash Flood Watches. #utwx pic.twitter.com/fg6vWUYrtS
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 18, 2021
🚨 Heads up Wasatch Front from Salt Lake County southward: we’re watching the potential for strong thunderstorms reaching the metro area around 12:30pm to 2pm! This is the same area of storms we currently have a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect upstream near Dugway #utwx
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) August 18, 2021
Listen to KSL NewsRadio for live updates, including severe weather alerts.
Our original report follows below.
Strong storms kept people awake overnight and brought lightning, thunder, hail and wind to many parts of Utah.
Storms reported from north to south
Some areas are already reporting flooding, and others are in a flash flood watch for most of Central Utah, and a flash flood warning for Southern Utah.
Schools in Delta in Millard County reported flooding and canceled classes for the day.
The National Weather Service reported flooding in Coal Creek in Cedar City.
Zion National Park closed the Narrows and all slot canyons.
Related: How to survive flash flooding in a Utah slot canyon and elsewhere
Tree branches or lightning appear to have affected some power lines, especially around Davis County. Layton, Bountiful, Woods Cross, North Salt Lake, Magna, Murray and Delta reported power outages at different times Wednesday morning.
More rain on the way
There were reports of a 73 mile per hour wind gust in Provo Canyon Tuesday night, and winds up to 55 miles per hour in Tooele County. Hail the size of nickels was spotted in Juab County while there was a warning of ping pong sized hail and strong wind gusts near Cove Fort.
Rain totals will quickly grow, but as of Wednesday morning, KSL Meteorologist Grant Weyman said Fish Lake got 2.6 inches. South Holladay over an inch. Murray almost an inch and Grantsville half an inch of rain.
The rain will continue throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
