News LIVE: Heavy rains cause flooding, structure failures, multiple car accidents; UPDATED 11 PM, STGnews Photo Gallery

Police were stopping traffic on St. George Boulevard and 200 East as well at 100 South and 1000 East so Backhoe crews could scrape away large rocks that had run off of the hill and into the streets. St. George, Utah, Aug. 26, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

NEWS LIVE: This report contains news live as it develops and is being  updated continuously. Bookmark and refresh the page periodically for updates. Last update: 11 p.m.

ST. GEORGE – A severe thunderstorm is deluging Washington County, creating traffic hazards and causing flooding in roadways and structures. There is standing water in roadways throughout St. George and the surrounding areas. As flooding happens outside, the St. George Communications Center has been flooded with calls, with reports ranging from vehicles floating in the roadway to persons trapped by flood waters inside buildings and vehicles sliding off the road.

ROAD UPDATE 10:45 p.m. from the City of St. George:

Rainfall has subsided. City crews will continue to work on the following roads this evening and tomorrow morning to clear debris: 200 E. North of St. George Boulevard 700 S. & 800 E. Mall Drive & Red Cliffs Drive 900 E. Between Red Hills Parkway and St. George Blvd. 1000 Riverside Drive Pioneer Park at Red Hills Parkway Please use caution on roads as debris may not be easily seen.

UPDATE 10 p.m. from Washington County Emergency Services:

Due to heavy rainfall the city has opened up the streets yard at 900 East and Red Hills Parkway and the Reuse Center at 575 East Brigham Road for sandbags to residents and businesses. Sand and bags available. Please bring shovels.

Flash flood warning area at radar time 10:10 p.m., Southern Utah, Aug. 26, 2014 | Image courtesy of National Weather Service, St. George News | Click on image to enlarge
Flash flood warning area at radar time 10:10 p.m., Southern Utah, Aug. 26, 2014 | Image courtesy of National Weather Service, St. George News | Click on image to enlarge

WEATHER UPDATE  9:49 p.m. The National Weather Service issued further flash flood warning for east central Washington County, west-central Kane County, in effect until 12:45 a.m. Flash flooding continues in Zion National Park. The north fork of the Virgin River is on the decline, flowing at 1259 cubic feet per second, cfs. Normal flow for this rier on this date is around 40 cfs. Thunderstorm activity continues to move through the park and flash flooding of small streams and slots continue to flow. It is anticipated with the amount of water coursing through the hydrologic system and the additional thunderstorms that Zion will continue to flood through the nighttime hours.

UPDATE from the St. George Police Department:

If you do not need to go out, PLEASE DO NOT. City crews and emergency workers are out trying to address the many road hazards affecting safe travel. If you do go out, please slow down and be patient.

Flooding has been reported at the DOVE Center and responders have been sent to help at that location.

Police were stopping traffic on St. George Boulevard  and 200 East as well at 100 South and 1000 East so Backhoe crews could scrape away large rocks that had run off of the hill and into the streets. St. George, Utah, Aug. 26, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News
Police were stopping traffic on St. George Boulevard and 200 East as well at 100 South and 1000 East so Backhoe crews could scrape away large rocks that had run off of the hill and into the streets. St. George, Utah, Aug. 26, 2014 | Photo by Brett Barrett, St. George News

Officers are stopping traffic on St. George Boulevard to allow backhoes to scrape off large rocks that have washed down the hill into the roadway. Responders are being called to multiple flooded homes and structures throughout the area and multiple vehicle accidents.

A retaining wall at a freeway underpass has failed near 100 South in St. George.

Traffic lights are out at River Road and Riverside Drive in St. George as of 9:05 p.m.

Reports are also coming in that a motel on St. George Boulevard is being evacuated and the residents are being relocated to another motel.

As of 9:20 p.m., there is a blocked culvert at 1680 E. Red Cliffs Drive, in front of the Red Cliffs Mall, and water is flooding from the roadway up over the sidewalk in the westbound lanes.

On Dixie Drive, from Sunset southward, there is a great of deal standing water and debris on the roadway and standing water at the bridge crossing near Sunbrook Golf Course. Southbound drivers in particular should slow down and move to the inside lane in this area. Anyone driving is cautioned to slow down and adjust their speed for the storm conditions. Drivers and pedestrians are cautioned not to stop beneath overpasses for refuge from the rain – this puts them at greater risk.

UPDATE from City of St. George: St. George is dealing with several issues around town related to the heavy rain storms passing through. The city will be putting out updated information on roadway conditions and closures as the storm passes through. Currently, 100 South at the I-15 overpass is closed due to the failure of a retaining wall. City Streets workers are trying to clear it now. 200 East, north of St. George Boulevard, is closed due to rocks and dirt from the hillside. Indian Hills advisory due to standing water and debris. May be difficult to pass. 270 E. Riverside Dr. is being shut down now. 900 S. Dixie Drive is becoming impassable. Red Cliffs Drive in front of the mall is flooded and there may be one lane that is passable, but caution is advised. More to come as more reports are received and more issues are addressed.

WEATHER UPDATE: National Weather Service warning at 8:13 p.m., the National Weather Service issued an alert that Doppler Radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the greater St. George area. This will result in minor flooding in and around St. George, Santa Clara and Washington City, the alert said. Radar rainfall estimates at that time included around an inch in a very short period of time. Typically, storm drains cannot handle intense rainfall for the short term. Street flooding is anticipated.

News reporters Hollie Reina and Holly Coombs and Editor-in-Chief Joyce Kuzmanic contributed to this report.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

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29 Comments

  • Patchiz August 26, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    Inner St George City, fast moving water and debris crossing 200 West between 300 South and 500 South. Rocks pummeled our SUV rims just about 20 minutes ago.

  • TAnnette August 26, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    Thank you for informing us about the current news….flooding news is important.

  • mmmbacon August 26, 2014 at 10:00 pm

    I need some bacon to cuddle with to watch the storm.

  • Steve August 26, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    Please inform us about the Virgin River possibly flooding in or near Springdale.

  • Real Life August 26, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    Came home from work late. The streets were absolutely filled with cars, full of rubber-neckers looking for flood damage, following fire trucks and emergency vehicles. Bunch of idiots.

  • lp August 26, 2014 at 10:09 pm

    I live in Leeds we dont have any flooding but the power is out for the second time in two hours. I was wondering if anyone thinks they roads will be passable by bus at 6:30 in the morning going from Leeds to Sunrise Ridge Intermediate?

  • Vicki Endsley August 26, 2014 at 10:48 pm

    Thank you first responders, city workers, and others who are willing to go out and help in this. I know it’s your job, but YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!

  • Francesco August 26, 2014 at 10:54 pm

    Thanks to the firemen to help us to leave safe our motel.

    Two italian guys

  • kwassi August 26, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    the roads in bloomington are also covered in debri! be careful out there, I almost ran over a cactus on the way to work.

  • Cj August 26, 2014 at 11:13 pm

    What is the safest way to get from Texas house to Santa Clara

    • EL JEFE August 27, 2014 at 8:53 am

      Would that be from Dallas or Houston?

  • Bob August 26, 2014 at 11:23 pm

    Oh know, more heavy rain. Time to start blaming the cities for the flooding, since it must be them causing all this rain.

  • killjoy August 26, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    Boy, it’s been coming down! We’re just south of Zion park and boy did we get doused!

  • The Rest Of The Story August 27, 2014 at 12:25 am

    I blame this all on gay marriage!
    Thanks, Obama!

    • rick September 9, 2014 at 2:23 pm

      stupid stupid democrat

    • rick September 9, 2014 at 2:25 pm

      For real how stupid can you get. Not funny.

  • Toby August 27, 2014 at 12:28 am

    When do you think the debris will be cleared I ride my bike 3 miles tomorrow morning at 5 am

    • Avatar photo Cami Cox Jim August 27, 2014 at 12:56 am

      The city crews are still out there working to get things cleaned up, so hopefully your route will be clear!

      • Toby August 27, 2014 at 6:29 pm

        Thank you cami went on my 3 mile bike ride this morning where I went was pretty much clear although there was some mud on the road and sidewalks

  • misfit1386 August 27, 2014 at 12:46 am

    I want a pic of the photo on the link this story, Im a painter and Id like to try to paint it and its not in the pics in the link jus on the link itself. If anyone has it or can tell me who took it let me know or post it on my page. Also could jus post it and tag me, I am Nick Perry. Thanks.

  • Dana August 27, 2014 at 5:30 am

    Awesome coverage. Props to Cami and all of the great photographers!

  • Incognegro (Josh Dalton) August 27, 2014 at 8:06 am

    AWESOME!! Nice pictures! This needs to happen everyday! Even though my car almost floated down Valley View I thought last night was AWESOME!

  • Betty August 27, 2014 at 9:16 am

    Ya, drove home last night about 8:30 pm in that mess. I white-knuckled it the whole way thinking maybe I should have packed my floaties for the journey. I saw many a photo-op but I couldn’t pry my fingers off the steering wheel. Talk about Heads Up/Thumbs Up!

    Adelin Kartes, do you really have Christmas lights up already? Or are they still hanging from last year? bahahaha!

  • M and M cookies August 27, 2014 at 9:41 am

    Great reporting and pictures cami… Love this site, and get updates…I now keep an umbrella in my car, it looks new for 19 yrs. here… We stood outside and watched the lightening and trash barrels wash. Y.. People should put barrels out after the storm or early in the morning,, and there wouldn,t be trash in the street, if people would just clear the drains in front of theirs businesses, especially on bluff st.. Turned off my sprinklers to save on water now….

  • SAGEMOON August 27, 2014 at 10:06 am

    Awesome photos!!!! And great reporting.

  • bobber August 27, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    Amazingly enough, with all these comments, I’m not seeing a lot of whining and complaining. Surprising really…

    • Duemas August 27, 2014 at 11:00 pm

      That’s because most of the whining and complaining comes from you bobber. Duemas.

  • My Evil Twin August 27, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    Some excellent pictures there. I do have one observation though: Why is St. George the only community reported on in this? It certainly is not the only community that was affected by it!

  • Jo August 27, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    I saw a lot of low profile cars on the streets during the flood but very few high lift monster trucks or other off-road SUVs.

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