Flash flooding likely in southern Utah, hikers asked to plan ahead

SALT LAKE CITY — National parks in southern Utah are likely to experience flash flooding on Wednesday and Thursday. Forecasters have asked hikers and explorers to stay safe and out of slot canyons.

Zion National Park, Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Snow Canyon are some of the areas at highest risk.

National Weather Service meteorologist Julie Cunningham said anyone planning activities in the area should check the weather beforehand.

“Any hikers or people canyoneering through slot canyons and any normally dry washes, those are generally the highest risk areas for flash flooding.”

The flooding can come on suddenly, seemingly without warning, since a person in a slot canyon might not even see the storm. Cunningham said the water producing these floods can come from miles away before washing into the canyon.

“You might have a thunderstorm that’s several miles away that’s producing really heavy rain over the top of the drainage. That’s producing a flood wave that you’re not even going to see until it’s kind of right over you.”

Cunningham said to check the National Weather Service website for current conditions.

There is a smaller risk of flooding on Thursday, but Cunningham said she expects these areas will be warm and dry again by Friday.

Related: How to survive flash flooding in a Utah slot canyon and elsewhere