Flash flooding may be on the way for Southern Utah national parks

In a file photo, crews work to clear Zion Park Boulevard after a flash flood swept through Zion National Park and Springdale, Utah, June 29, 2021 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The monsoons may be making things wet and flash flooding possible in the slot canyons of Southern Utah’s national parks late Thursday.

Flash flooding of Zion Canyon, Springdale, Utah, June 29, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Zion National Park, St. George News

But as is the unpredictable nature of monsoonal weather locally, it may hit, or miss.

According to the National Weather Service’s Salt Lake City office, there is a 40% chance of heavy thunderstorms hitting the area east of Interstate 15 in the late afternoon Thursday, with the slot canyons of Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks susceptible to flash floods.

Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon are especially likely to be hit this afternoon, according to weather service forecasters. Just after noon, a flash flood warning was issued for Capitol Reef National Park and central Garfield County.

Such warnings are especially conspicuous for Zion considering it is nearly one year since what many called the worst flash flooding in memory washed out an entire RV park, much of the parking lot of the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater and trails in Zion National Park and Springdale.

National Weather Service forecaster Sam Webber told St. George News that Zion is less likely to be hit by flash flooding from this storm as Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon.

Lower Spring Canyon is a lesser-traversed backcountry trail that starts at the Chimney Rock trailhead, Capitol Reef National Park, July 18, 2020 | Photo by Reuben Wadsworth, St. George News

“Down there the likelihood is pretty low. It’s not zero. A lot of storms are swarming off the higher terrain. We’ve got a lot of stuff going on in Bryce and Capital Reef over the high terrain,” Webber said. “I’d still give a 20% chance (in Zion) until 9 p.m. The real threat is anywhere between now and the next couple of hours.”

The weather service advises visitors to the parks to be especially cognizant in slot canyons and normally dry washes, which could surge with several feet of flood water in seconds, potentially sweeping away hikers. 

The chance of moisture outside the national parks is much less, though more likely in the Cedar City area than in St. George. Any rain might be welcome since much of the area has gone without measurable rain since April.

It’s tough to pin down these kinds of storms. They’re hit and miss,” Webber said. “If you’re under the storm, you might see an inch of rain but 5 miles away you won’t see a drop.”

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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