SOUTHERN UTAH – Rivers and streams throughout Washington and Kane County continue to flow at dangerous levels.
Many places along the Virgin River and Santa Clara River systems are flooded. Damage to these areas remain centered on flooded roads and damaged bridges.
The north fork of the Virgin River as it flows through Zion National Park is flowing at 2,000 CFS. The River typically flows at 40 CFS at this time of year. It is forecasted to rise to 4,600 CFS at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
Areas impacted by these high flows include roads and bridges as the river flows through Zion National Park. The Virgin River near the town of Virgin was flowing at 7,700 CFS last night. Typically, the Virgin at this stretch of rivers flows at 150 CFS. It is forecast to rise to 8,700 CFS at 3 p.m. today.
Low lying areas near the town of Virgin are affected by these high flows.
The Santa Clara River near St. George was flowing around 2,300 CFS last night. The river at this point typically flows at 6 CFS at this time of year. It declined throughout the night, but will rise to a peak of approximately 2,500 CFS at 10 p.m. tonight.
Flooding around the river has been mostly contained to roads, bridges and irrigation infrastructure.
The Virgin River near the town of Bloomington was flowing at 12,400 CFS last night. This river gage is located below the confluence of the Virgin River and the Santa Clara River. Typically, this stretch of river flows near 150 CFS and is forecasted to rise to 14,600 CFS by 1 a.m. on Thursday.
With this significant rainfall, slow canyons, small streams and dry washes have been flooding since late Sunday night. With additional rain forecasted for Wednesday, these waterways are also forecast to remain in flood.
Although flooding has been predominantly a Washington County problem, damage due to flooding has also been reported in Kane County. The Johnson Wash flooded yesterday and closed SR-9 just west of Kanab.
There have been many instances of flooding in the drainage flowing south from Northern Kane County. Road damage in these areas has only exacerbated the already damaged roads in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.