Southern Utah flood watch issued, with rain expected across state

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for southern Utah from noon Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday.

The “deep monsoonal moisture” over southern Utah will spread north on Friday, with a chance of additional tropical weather moving into the area over the weekend, according to the weather service. There’s a high chance of flash flooding, “particularly over southern Utah.”

Not only is flash flooding possible in slot canyons, normally dry washes, recent burn scars, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, but it’s possible in urban areas as well.

According to the weather service, heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding in areas including the central and southern Utah mountains; the Sevier Valley; Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Zion national parks; Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell; upper Sevier River valleys; and lower Washington County.

The warning comes the day after flash floods hit multiple areas in southern Utah, including parts of both Zion National Park and Capitol Reef National Park. No injuries were reported.

In Cedar City, residents were mopping up on Friday morning after flooding hit homes, the Iron County jail and the Cedar City Hospital.

According to a statement from Intermountain Health, the flooding “affected the south side of the hospital, including areas around the operating room.” Although the hospital remains operational and “patients are completely safe,” surgeries planned for Friday were being rescheduled.

In the Salt Lake City area, mostly sunny skies are expected Friday, with high temperatures in the upper 80s.

Rain from a “monsoonal moisture surge” will move in on Friday night, and moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary may begin to affect the area later in the weekend and into early next week. There’s a chance of showers, thunderstorms and heavy rain through at least Thursday.