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As Utah temperatures rise over the next few days, so will the chance of flooding as the state’s record snowpack melts — with flood warnings already in effect in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.
In Salt Lake City, temperatures were expected to top out at about 70 on Thursday, then rise to the low to mid-70s on Friday and Saturday, the mid- to upper 70s on Sunday, the low 80s on Monday and Tuesday, and the mid-80s on Wednesday. And temperatures are expected to remain in the 80s through the following weekend.
Normal high temperatures for this time of year are 71-74 degrees.
There’s not much rain in the forecast — a slight chance Saturday and Sunday, and a chance of scattered thunderstorms Monday through Wednesday.
In the St. George area, temperatures were expected to reach the mid-80s on Thursday, with highs forecast from the upper 80s to the mid-90s for next week. That’s above normal, which is 83-86 degrees this time of year.
Flood warnings, and an advisory:
The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for three areas:
• The south fork of the Ogden River near Huntsville, where spring snowmelt runoff will cause minor flooding “until further notice.” The forecast calls for the river to remain at about flood stage, which is 4.6 feet.
• The Sevier River near Hatch, where spring snowmelt runoff is expected to cause minor flooding beginning Saturday morning. The river will remain between action and flood stages over the next few days. Minor flood stage is 3.9 feet; moderate flood stage is 4.3 feet.
• The Bear River in eastern Rich County, where snowmelt and increased water releases from reservoirs will cause the river to run high “until further notice.” Moderate flooding is expected from below the Woodruff Narrows Reservoir to the Wyoming border in agricultural land and roads adjacent to the Bear River.
The weather service separately issued a flood advisory for the Bear River at Corinne, where snowmelt and increased water releases from reservoirs are expected to cause minor flooding downstream from the Cutler Dam. The river level will stay between 15-16 feet “until further notice”; flood stage is 15.5 feet.
Ogden Canyon road closed due to erosion
(Weber County Sheriff's Office) State Road 39 through Ogden Canyon was shut down on Thursday, May 11, 2023, after the high flow of the Ogden River eroded a section of bank underneath the roadway.
The road through Ogden Canyon was closed Thursday and will likely remain shut down into at least Friday because of erosion, according to the Utah Department of Transportation.
John Gleason, a spokesperson for UDOT, said a section of banking underneath State Road 39 had partially washed away due to the high flow of the Ogden River, which runs through the canyon and underneath the roadway in some spots.
Crews closed the roadway after discovering the erosion, which Gleason said is around milepost 9, near the canyon’s waterfall and the western side of the canyon by Ogden city limits. As of Thursday afternoon, crews were working to evaluate damage and determine the extent of repairs needed.
Gleason said Thursday that there were no reports of flooding in the canyon. Earlier this month, water spilled onto the canyon’s roadway after debris clogged up a culvert.
Mudslide in Eden
(Weber Fire District) A mudslide hit Eden on Wednesday.
One Weber County home remained evacuated Thursday morning and parts of a street remained closed after a mudslide on Wednesday.
According to the Weber Fire District, the slide was reported at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Eden, where Powder Mountain ski resort — which is closed for the season — is located. Melting snow in the area saturated a hillside, officials said, causing the slide.
One house was impacted, according to officials, and residents were evacuated as a precaution. Crews worked to divert water away from other nearby homes.
“The situation is under constant surveillance,” Weber Fire District reported Wednesday evening, “and the on-site crews will promptly notify residents in the event that further evacuations become necessary.”
Salt Lake City creeks
Creeks in Salt Lake City are not expected to flood over the next few days, according to the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. Even with the warmer temperatures, no flooding is expected along Emigration Creek and Red Butte Creek.
Water levels in Parleys Creek are expected to decline over the next few days as less water is released from reservoirs. Sugar House Park remains closed to vehicles because the pond — a flood detention area — remains flooded. Salt Lake City has not announced a date for reopening.
The danger of debris blocking the creeks, which could cause localized flooding, remains, however. Crews from Salt Lake County worked Wednesday to clear debris from City Creek in anticipation of the higher temperatures and increased snowmelt.
Salt Lake County Flood Control asked residents to call 385-468-6600 is they see flooding along rivers, creeks, streams, canals or areas of stream channel erosion.
If residents see flooding on local roadways, intersections or parking lots, they should call their local municipality.
