Editor’s note • The Salt Lake Tribune is providing free access to this vital story about flooding. Sign up for our Top Stories newsletter, sent to your inbox every morning. To support journalism like this, please donate or become a subscriber.
Two Utah waterways will be under a flood warning and one will be under a flood advisory this week due to rapidly changing temperatures, the National Weather Service said Saturday.
A flood warning is in place for the South Fork of the Ogden River, according to the weather service, which says spring runoff will result in flows exceeding flood thresholds near Huntsville in Weber County. The river is expected to stay at flood stages throughout much of the week, then peak Thursday morning at around 5.1 feet.
Near Hatch in Garfield County, the Sevier River will see minor flooding starting Monday afternoon, the weather service said. The river will then hover around flood stage through Wednesday before peaking at 4.1 feet Wednesday morning. Flood stage for the Sevier River in the Hatch area is 3.9 feet.
In Corrine in Box Elder County, snowmelt and increased reservoir releases will cause flows in the Bear River to rise, the weather service said in an advisory Saturday. The river was expected to rise to 15.4 feet Sunday evening — flood levels are at 15.5 feet. Minor flooding is expected from Cutler Dam and on agricultural land and roads adjacent to the Bear River near the Great Salt Lake.
The Salt Lake Fire Department reminded people that with waterways running high, pets should be kept on a leash when recreating around streams and rivers, even in the off-leash dog parks of City Creek and Tanner Park, where Parleys Creek is located.
“The water is flowing faster than you might think, and your pet can be overtaken and swept away,” the department tweeted. “This season we have already seen two dogs swept away in the fast current of Tanner Park.”
The department said that if a child or a pet is swept away, call 911 immediately, give the location where the person or pet was last seen, and do not attempt to enter the water.
This week’s weather forecast
The weekend’s unsettled weather will mostly continue this week, with a chance of showers Monday in the Salt Lake City area, according to the weather service. Tuesday will be partly sunny with a high of 72 degrees, then rain will return Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with a forecast high in the 60s on all three days. The sun will return next Saturday, with a high around 75.
St. George can expect sunny and pleasant weather this week, with highs mostly in the 80s. Next Saturday, the high is forecast to rise to 90 degrees.
Be careful in Little Cottonwood Canyon
The Utah Department of Transportation tweeted that due to the possibility of landslides, avalanches and mudslides, Little Cottonwood Canyon could close at any time. It urged visitors to “be prepared,” since State Route 210 could close after you enter the canyon.
The department told drivers to beware of rockfall as well since hillsides have become “saturated” with snow, “causing rocks of all sizes to come loose at times.”
UDOT also warned drivers that flooding and mudslides could occur this summer, once monsoon season begins.
