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Thread: Flash Floods in SW Utah

  1. #1
    Zions the "s" is silent trackrunner's Avatar
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    Flash Floods in SW Utah

    Ram posted this article over at the yahoo group, Oldno 7 posted parts at ACA forum, thought I'd post it here.

    5 inches of rain in the Left Fork (Subway area)

    http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs...NTPAGECAROUSEL

    Storm sparks floods, fires

    ST. GEORGE - Heavy rains Monday afternoon and evening created flash floods in some parts of Southern Utah. And the forecast for today shows the area could see similar conditions later this afternoon and evening.


    Earlier in the evening, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the left fork of North Creek from Zion National Park.

    Pete Wilensky, lead forecaster for the weather service in Salt Lake City, said park rangers at Zion National Park reported the creek was out of its banks and filling the flood plain. He added rangers reported it was chocolate-colored water carrying logs and debris down the creek.

    "It's headed along the Kolob Terrace Road. Once it hits the Virgin River, it shouldn't be too bad," he said.

    Wilensky said radar estimated five inches of rain had fallen in about an hour on the left fork of North Creek inside Zion National Park.

    Ron Terry, public information officer for Zion National Park, said there was a ranger on foot checking out the North Creek area.

    "We did have one group with a permit in the Subway - which is part of the left fork - and another group in the right fork area," he said. "We're checking on them to make sure they're OK."

    Later in the evening, the concern swayed from the eastern part of the county to the region along state Route 18 through Dammeron Valley and Diamond Valley.

    Runoff from the heavy rains prompted residents and authorities to sandbag some locations.

    The lightning that accompanied the storms also caused some problems by sparking a few fires.

    Nick Howell, fire management specialist for Cedar City Bureau of Land Management office, said there were four confirmed lightning-strike fires between the Arizona strip and state Route 18.

    "Crews are working on the fires, but they're definitely not large project fires," he said Monday night.

    Howell added there were seven confirmed fires in the entire five-county area served by the Color Country Interagency fire region.

    Today's forecast calls for localized heavy rains this afternoon and evening. The area has been placed in a flash flood watch through tonight.

    Check back at www.thespectrum.com throughout the day for more details as they become available.

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  3. #2
    Zions the "s" is silent trackrunner's Avatar
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    Link

    August 5, 2008


    Weather: Flash flood watch today


    Most of Southern Utah has been placed in a flash flood watch today because of the potential for heavy downpours, especially later this afternoon and tonight.

    The St. George area can expect a high of 97 today with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Some of the rain could be heavy in localized areas. Tomorrow's high should be about 100 with a 30 percent chance of showers. Thursday's high should be about 102 with a 30 percent chance of rain.

    The Cedar City area can expect a high of 84 today with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Rain also could be heavy there at times with localized flooding. Tomorrow's high should be about 86 with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Thursday's high should be about 90 with a 30 percent chance of rain.

    Check back at www.thespectrum.com throughout the day for updates to the forecast and for other warnings or watches.

  4. #3
    Bogley BigShot oldno7's Avatar
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    Shaun
    Did you check out the Springville vs. Virgin gauges for CFS?

    http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09406000

    http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv...10,00095,72020

    Looks like spikes to 2500cfs at Virgin.

  5. #4
    Zions the "s" is silent trackrunner's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by oldno7
    Shaun
    Did you check out the Springville vs. Virgin gauges for CFS?

    http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?09406000

    http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ut/nwis/uv...10,00095,72020

    Looks like spikes to 2500cfs at Virgin.
    Thanks,

    No I didn't. I remember reading -I think Ram posted it- that the virgin near Springdale didn't flash. I didn't know until now there was a river gage at Virgin.

    2500 CF at Virgin 75 CF in Springdale.
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    Zions the "s" is silent trackrunner's Avatar
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    I got off the phone with a friend who was in Russel Gulch & Subway this Monday. He said after they pass the red waterfalls it started to rain. As they were getting closer to the hike out it started to down pour and they took off running knowing they were close to the finish. They soon passed a group (only group they saw that day) slowly hiking and alerted them of an eminate flash flood and that they might want to pick it up or head to high ground.

    When my friends group summited out of the drainage they heard/saw the wave come tearing through left fork. But the drainage near the parking lot was a raging river floating boulders. They waited for a half hour for things to calm down until they crossed.

    They were met at the parking lot by a ranger and my friend shared the story and the last location the group was seen. From what I understand the last group when they came out until after 9:15 pm.

    Stay safe out there, look to the sky.

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