Flood watch issued for parts of Utah as tropical storm remnants arrive
Jun 21, 2024, 7:00 AM | Updated: 7:01 am
The storm surge from Tropical Storm Alberto floods the streets in Surfside Beach, Texas, on Wednesday. Remnants of the storm could create flash flooding in Utah with a flood watch through Saturday, but especially on Friday. (Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle via AP)
(Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle via AP)
SALT LAKE CITY — Federal forecasters have issued multiple flood watches that cover a large chunk of southeast and central Utah as the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto arrive in the state.
The National Weather Service’s flood watches cover several communities, including Blanding, Escalante, Green River, Kanab, Moab and Torrey. It will be in effect from noon to 9 p.m. on Friday.
“Anomalously high moisture content air will combine with a mid-level disturbance to aid in the development of strong thunderstorms capable of heavy rainfall,” the watch states. “Heavy rainfall may result in flooding of slot canyons, recent burn scars, normally dry washes and other flood-prone locations.”
Flash flooding is considered “likely” in popular recreation areas like Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef national parks, as well as Lake Powell and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Flooding is also possible in areas like Zion National Park.
While the watch is only in effect on Friday, the weather service notes there will be some flash flooding potential in Utah on Thursday and Saturday as the very western edge of the storm system moves on through.
Alberto is this year’s first named storm of the season across the Atlantic Ocean and made landfall in Mexico on Thursday, bringing heavy rain to Mexico and Texas, according to the Associated Press. The outlet reported that at least three people died because of its rainfall.
KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson says most of the flooding potential on Thursday will be around the Four Corners region, as the western edge of Alberto’s remnants move northward. The storms are expected to die down overnight into Friday before they pick back up Friday afternoon, this time impacting most of eastern, central and southern Utah.
Johnson said the daytime heat and moisture coming in from the Gulf of Mexico is expected to produce widespread scattered showers and thunderstorms likely ranging from the southern end of the Wasatch Front to about Cedar City and areas east of those locations. Areas by the Wasatch Plateau/Bookcliffs and Four Corners appear to have the highest probability of strong thunderstorms.
“We’ve got to watch Friday carefully because not only do we have moisture in place, but we’re going to introduce some dynamics with a small (low-pressure front) swinging by,” he said.
Flooding potential is expected to drop on Saturday as the system tapers off. Hotter and drier conditions are forecast throughout the state by the end of the weekend, the first weekend of summer.
High temperatures are forecast to reach the upper 90s and low 100s throughout most of the Wasatch Front this weekend and into early next week. That’s after a cold front that swept through the state earlier this week dropped Salt Lake City’s high temperature to just 69 degrees on Tuesday.
High temperatures in St. George are forecast to reach close to 110 degrees by early next week, as well.
Full seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found online at the KSL Weather Center.
Read the full story at KSL.com
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