Storm swells Virgin River, flash flood at Fort Pierce Bridge; STGnews Aerial Videocast

Fort Pearce Wash at the Fort Pierce Bridge, notably full flash flooded by storms, St. George, Utah, Aug. 18, 2014 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News | Caption CORRECTED the error of identifying this water as the Virgin River; Fort Pearce Wash converges with the Virgin River downstream

ST. GEORGE – A series of alerts issued by the National Weather Service Monday were vindicated as a severe thunderstorm crossed Washington County, impacting Washington City early and hard, flooding streets and homes, and later swelling the Virgin River significantly after a flash flood rushed through Fort Pearce Wash in the Bloomington Hills area of St. George.

An alert at 6:40 p.m.stated:

THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE FORT PEARCE WASH ORIGINATING OUT OF ARIZONA AND FLOWING INTO UTAH HAS VERIFIED. THE FORT PEARCE WASH RIVER GAGE LOCATED SOUTH OF ST. GEORGE AS OF 6PM REPORTED A FLOW OF 7700 CFS. THE FLOW OF 7700 CFS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FLOOD AND IS MOVING TOWARDS THE AREA AROUND THE ST. GEORGE GOLF CLUB. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… IF YOU ARE NEAR THE FORT PEARCE WASH…TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE FOR YOUR SAFETY

By 7:40 p.m the water beneath the Fort Pierce Bridge in Bloomington Hills went from bone dry to full swell about six feet below the bridge which was lined with spectators. St. George News caught the fiercely flowing water between 7:40 and 8 p.m. on video.

(story continues below)

Videocast by Dave Amodt, St. George News

As of 9:30 p.m. the swell did not press upstream into the Santa Clara River at its point of confluence with the Virgin River and thus no visible flooding occurred at the Southgate Golf Course or car dealerships along Hilton Drive as another alert had warned.

Virgin River at Man of War Bridge, notably full and widened by storms, St. George, Utah, Aug. 18, 2014 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Virgin River at Man of War Bridge, notably full and widened by storms, St. George, Utah, Aug. 18, 2014 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News

The Virgin River was noticeably full at the Man of War Bridge in Bloomington, rushing with similar strength and turmoil to what is seen in the Fort Pierce Bridge video included.

Related posts – earlier today

 

Fort Pearce Wash flash flooding, St. George, Utah, Aug. 18, 2014 | Photo by Jared Abel courtesy of Lisa Abel, St. George News
Fort Pearce Wash flash flooding, St. George, Utah, Aug. 18, 2014 | Photo by Jared Abel courtesy of Lisa Abel, St. George News
Fort Pearce Wash flash flooding with deer, St. George, Utah, Aug. 18, 2014 | Photo by Jared Abel courtesy of Lisa Abel, St. George News
Fort Pearce Wash flash flooding with deer, St. George, Utah, Aug. 18, 2014 | Photo by Jared Abel courtesy of Lisa Abel, St. George News

Related posts – earlier this year

 

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Twitter: @JoyceKuzmanic

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

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28 Comments

  • Washed Away August 18, 2014 at 10:55 pm

    Hey let’s all go stand on the bridge over the raging flood! Bunch of dummies.

    • Steve August 18, 2014 at 11:51 pm

      Yeah, don’t you people remember when the tiny Santa Clara “River” washed out the bridge? Don’t be stupid. Get away from flood waters, and certainly don’t stand on a structure that could be compromised. You could die!

    • Simon & Garfunkel August 20, 2014 at 1:40 pm

      Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.

  • Hey U, Tards August 18, 2014 at 10:57 pm

    “Well at least it’s not snowing! ” and “I hate the snow!” Those are the utarded comments I am tired of hearing in these utarded regions.

    • dumb and dumber August 19, 2014 at 1:40 am

      You just said more about yourself than you could ever hope to say about the people of Utah, way to go!

    • Dana August 19, 2014 at 5:59 am

      And yet, here you are adding to the noise.

    • Hate August 19, 2014 at 8:14 am

      You should overcome you fears, come out of your shelter and see how it feels to be free.

  • Doug Bringhurst August 19, 2014 at 8:27 am

    Everyone look that’s the next generation of our future…. god help us!

  • Dixielambs August 19, 2014 at 8:39 am

    Nice footage Dave Amodt… Was this taken from an RC craft of some sort?

  • anonymous August 19, 2014 at 9:16 am

    Yeah. Let’s show the world just how stupid the St. George community really is.

  • Mary August 19, 2014 at 9:28 am

    Personally I think this is the BEST news reporting site for Washington County .
    2 thumbs up for St George News ! !

    • S. Carter August 19, 2014 at 6:01 pm

      Agreed!! The Rectum sucks!!!

  • M and M cookies August 19, 2014 at 9:53 am

    We need the rain so ably, button bad it comes all at once.. Been here 19 years now, people always want to see flooded areas, just like they rush to see a fire…

  • Eric August 19, 2014 at 10:01 am

    was that filmed with a drone? That’s some good shot’s

  • Huh ? August 19, 2014 at 10:34 am

    What’s wrong with standing on that bridge? It’s not like it will be going anywhere just because there is some water flowing underneath it. That’s what bridges are for. They are built to flow large amounts of water under them.
    Now if the water was flowing over the top, there “might” be some danger in somebody losing their footing and falling down or into the river.
    Wow, what some worry warts around here.

    • Mark Vinclio August 19, 2014 at 1:08 pm

      I see what you mean Doug. Here is another fine example. People have thumbs too but that doesn’t mean you want to stick it in your butt because you can.

      • Huh ? August 19, 2014 at 4:28 pm

        Life is an adventure, if I’m not standing on a bridge with flood waters beneath it, I might be riding a bike without a helmet or at home running around with scissors.

    • Robb Willie August 19, 2014 at 1:51 pm

      Several years ago, the bridge by the Dixie Center was washed away. It was very solid, at least until it went away.

  • Bob August 19, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    Thanks for the Eye in the Sky Phantom video. Good job Dave.

  • Tangental Editorializing August 19, 2014 at 2:15 pm

    The photo caption reads: “Virgin River at Fort Pierce Bridge, notably full and widened by storms, St. George, Utah, Aug. 18, 2014 | Photo by Dave Amodt, St. George News”

    Bzzzt! Thanks for playing. That’s Fort Pierce Wash at the Fort Pierce Bridge, NOT the Virgin River.

    Now if only we could get consistent Pierce vs. Pearce spelling. The BLM refers to the actual fort as “Fort Pearce” and on their historic site web page refers to the was as “Fort Pearce Wash.” The EPA’s web site refers to the entire drainage basin as the Fort Pierce drainage basin. An interesting tangent for some I suppose…

    • Avatar photo Joyce Kuzmanic August 19, 2014 at 5:48 pm

      You are right, TE in all respects, best I can tell. We clarified the report immediately upon publishing as to the flash flooding the Fort Pearce Wash – running under the Fort Pierce Bridge in the Bloomington Hills area of St. George and converging with the Virgin River. But I missed the photo caption, and will take care of that now.
      What’s in a name? One commenter stated that the variable spellings of Fort Pearce / Pierce come from the developer who named the road Fort Pierce Drive rather than Fort Pearce Drive, thereby forever cementing the confusion in the spellings – and it would make sense that the EPA might name a drainage basin consistent with a development. It would seem the actual wash and the fort predated the development, and yet – once named … the challenge of Pearce / Pierce will trouble us again, I’m sure.
      Thank you for the tangent, I enjoyed it – now, did you enjoy the video?
      Share with us anytime,
      ST. GEORGE NEWS | STGnews.com
      Joyce Kuzmanic
      Editor in Chief

      • Dana August 19, 2014 at 7:16 pm

        Joyce…Everyone enjoyed the video. Awesome coverage!

  • Stacye August 19, 2014 at 7:00 pm

    Way to go Dave, now Kevin & Jim S. are going to want a toy like that!

  • Bobber August 19, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    almost look like a kangaroo, lol’d

  • Storm August 20, 2014 at 1:38 pm

    It’s run-off from the Dixie College. Go Red Storm.

  • tt_tiara August 21, 2014 at 3:09 am

    In some locales surplus clean surface water is pumped underground to replenish the aquifer. The water is preserved from evaporation and surface contaminants.

  • John September 30, 2014 at 12:57 am

    God I wish it wouldd rise further and wash this whole godforsaken “city” into oblivion! Take all these old drain on society retirees with it. I hate this place!!!!

    • Joanna September 30, 2014 at 8:53 am

      You know what would be even easier than washing the city away? Putting you on a plane. 🙂 Seriously, why do you hate it so much? It’s fun! There’s golf, good restaurants, national parks, good weather, and Las Vegas is close!

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