Forecasters at Salt Lake City’s National Weather Service office issued a flash flood warning for Alta through the evening as the area experiences heavy rainfall.
One to two inches of rain fell in a “short amount of time” this afternoon across Alta and the broader area east of Salt Lake City, said senior meteorologist Monica Traphagen.
The town will be under a flash flood warning through 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, and the flood damage threat is “considerable,” according to the weather bulletin.
Crews are already working to manage mud and debris that has covered the roadway near Alta, between mileposts 10 and 12 on State Route 210, according to the Alta Marshal’s Office.
Heavy rain and showers are expected in the area through at least Thursday, forecasts state.
“Travel over there is going to be treacherous,” Traphagen said.
The rainfall is tied to a heavy surge of monsoonal moisture — with twice the amount of precipitation the state normally sees at this time of year, Traphagen said. Forecasters are primarily concerned about rain overwhelming the roads and debris flows causing mudslides.
“Any showers and thunderstorms that develop are going to be capable of producing very heavy rainfall, and [we] advise people to keep an eye to the sky and stay safe — and then be prepared,” Traphagen said. “If you see debris on roadways, we always say, ‘Turn around, don’t drown.’”
