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Utahns hoping for a reprieve from the smoke from Canadian wildfires that’s been hanging over Salt Lake City and other parts of the state will have to wait until after Tuesday.
According to the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, the air in Salt Lake, Davis and Weber/Box Elder counties is expected to be “unhealthy for sensitive groups” Monday and then “moderate” on Tuesday. In Washington and Tooele, air quality is expected to be “moderate” through Tuesday. And in Utah County, the air will be moderate Monday and Tuesday.
“Smoke from wildfires could cause high concentrations of particulates in populated areas,” the Department of Environmental Quality said on its website. “If smoke becomes thick, persons with existing heart or respiratory ailments should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity.”
You can visit air.utah.gov for hourly air quality updates or download the Utah Air app.
The weather forecast from the National Weather Service looks like it will help clear out the smoke. In the Salt Lake City area, there’s a chance of thunderstorms or showers every day through Saturday, with forecast highs in the 80s.
In the St. George area, the weather looks sunny and clear through Saturday, with highs in the 90s.
Flooding outlook
Big Cottonwood Creek was expected to rise overnight Sunday into Monday, according to the weather service.
Areas adjacent to the creek are expected to experience minor flooding starting at about 1 a.m. Monday, with daily peak flows reaching about 800 cubic feet per second from Monday through Friday. That’s similar to about 800 basketballs of water passing by each second.
The weather service has also issued a warning for minor flooding in low-lying areas near the banks of the Ogden River below the Causey Reservoir and through the town of Huntsville. Flood stage for the south fork of the Ogden River is 4.6 feet, and on Sunday, the river was at 4.9 feet. The river is expected to stay above minor flood stage until at least Saturday, the weather service said.
The Sevier River near Hatch in Garfield County is expected to “oscillate” between near to above moderate flood stage through Friday before falling into minor flood stage, the weather service said. At 3.9 feet, which is the river’s flood stage, minor flooding will impact fields, bridges and low-lying structures.
Moderate flooding at 4.3 feet will affect fields, roads and bridges along low-lying sections of the Sevier River including the river crossing along South Hatch Dam Road, the weather service said. Seasonal homes near Bullberry Street will also likely receive flood damage.
The Bear River in Rich County, from below Woodruff Narrows Reservoir northward to the Utah/Wyoming line, is under a flood warning until May 26, the weather service said. The Bear River is expected to stay high in this area until further notice, and some locations that will experience flooding include Randolph and Woodruff, according to the weather service. If possible, livestock should be moved to higher ground.
On Monday, flash flooding is “possible” in southern Utah at Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument and the San Rafael Swell, and “probable” at Capitol Reef National Park, according to the weather service.
