Alert archive / Utah / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 103, NWS Salt Lake City, UT

August 31, 2026Garfield County, Utah

NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued this flash flood warning at Aug 31, 2026, 9:50 AM MDT for Garfield County, Utah. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 31, 2026, 9:50 AM MDT (15:50 UTC)
Expired
Aug 31, 2026, 12:45 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Salt Lake City, UT
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

County Garfield County, UT

The radar

The Cedar City radar (KICX), 113 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:53 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 31, 10:25 AM MDTFLASH FLOOD2 Ne Escalante, UTRiver Gauge on the Escalante at Escalante indicates a 433 cfs flood wave hit the gauge at 1025. The flow was still increasing.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 35 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Salt Lake City I, UT (KSLC), launched 12:00Z, 3.8 hours before the alert went out and 325 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Salt Lake City I, UT at 12:00Z on 2026-08-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 39 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Salt Lake City I, UT at 12:00Z on 2026-08-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
39 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-292 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1883 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
87 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

429 
WGUS55 KSLC 311550
FFWSLC
UTC017-311845-
/O.NEW.KSLC.FF.W.0103.260831T1550Z-260831T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
950 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Central Garfield County in southern Utah...

* Until 1245 PM MDT.

* At 950 AM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.25 and 0.75 inches of
  rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
  shortly.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
           flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Escalante, Pine Creek, Death Hollow, and the Escalante River
  Canyon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain. Dry
washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

&&

LAT...LON 3791 11172 3777 11164 3777 11146 3793 11156
      3792 11166

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

CRK
3 follow-up statements
193 
WGUS75 KSLC 311634
FFSSLC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1034 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

UTC017-311845-
/O.CON.KSLC.FF.W.0103.000000T0000Z-260831T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Garfield UT-
1034 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL GARFIELD COUNTY...

At 1034 AM MDT, gauge reports indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 0.25 and 0.75 inches of rain
have fallen. Flash flooding is already occurring.  The river gauge on
Pine Creek near the Escalante River indicated a 171 cfs flood wave
hit the gauge around 915 AM.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Gauges reported.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of normally dry washes, slot
         canyons, creeks, streams and rivers.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Escalante, Pine Creek, Death Hollow, and the Escalante River
  Canyon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain. Dry
washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

&&

LAT...LON 3791 11172 3777 11164 3777 11146 3793 11156
      3792 11166

FLASH FLOOD...GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

CRK
261 
WGUS75 KSLC 311706
FFSSLC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1106 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

UTC017-311845-
/O.CON.KSLC.FF.W.0103.000000T0000Z-260831T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Garfield UT-
1106 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL GARFIELD COUNTY...

At 1106 AM MDT, gauge reports indicate flash flooding is occurring.
The river gauge on Pine Creek near the Escalante River indicated a
171 cfs flood wave hit the gauge around 915 AM.  The river gauge on
the Escalante River near Escalante indicated a flood wave around 400
cfs and climbing at 1025 AM.  This flood wave will continue to surge
down the Escalante River.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Gauges reported.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of normally dry washes, slot
         canyons, creeks, streams and rivers.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Escalante, Pine Creek, Death Hollow, and the Escalante River
  Canyon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain. Dry
washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

&&

LAT...LON 3791 11172 3777 11164 3777 11146 3793 11156
      3792 11166

FLASH FLOOD...GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

CRK
037 
WGUS75 KSLC 311837
FFSSLC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1237 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

UTC017-311847-
/O.EXP.KSLC.FF.W.0103.000000T0000Z-260831T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Garfield UT-
1237 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1245 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
CENTRAL GARFIELD COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended however enhanced runoff will continue across
the area.  Additional thunderstorms will impact the region through
this evening. A Flood Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT
Monday.

&&

LAT...LON 3791 11172 3777 11164 3777 11146 3793 11156
      3792 11166

$$

CRK

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Salt Lake City, UT wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 31, 4:33 AM MDT, 5 hours 17 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 4:33 AM MDT, 5 hours 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
433 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

.KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1046 PM MDT Sun Aug 30 2026...

- A moderate risk (level 3/4) for excessive rainfall is in effect across
  portions of eastern and southern Utah Monday.

- A flood watch for flash flooding remains in effect across much
  of central and southern Utah through Monday evening. The threat
  of flooding is highest across slot canyons, normally dry washes,
  slick rock areas, recent burn scars as well as areas that have
  already received very heavy rainfall this weekend including the
  Sanpete and Sevier Valleys, Castle Country, and the San Rafael
  Swell.

- There is an increasing probability that deep moisture associated
  with a tropical cyclone in the Eastern Pacific will spread
  northward into Utah ahead of a Pacific disturbance Friday into
  next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION, Issued 1046 PM MDT Sun Aug 30 2026...
Convection has largely waned late this evening
across the area, with most of Utah and southwest Wyoming seeing
some relief from the rainfall during the overnight hours. Far
southeastern Utah, largely near Lake Powell, may still see some
shower and isolated thunderstorm development tonight and
during the morning hours as a weak shortwave trough passes across
the Four Corners. Uncertainty still remains with the timing of
this wave, which will ultimately determine the coverage/intensity
of afternoon convection across far southeastern Utah. Earlier
model runs suggested showers moving into the area by 9AM which
would likely result in more limited afternoon instability.
However, recent model trends show this a bit later, coincident
with daytime heating/instability.

Across the rest of the area, widespread thunderstorms will develop
during the afternoon, owing to anomalous moisture in place
coupled with broad-scale dynamics. The aforementioned shortwave
trough moving through the Four Corners will move in sync with a
separate shortwave trough crossing western Utah from southwest to
northeast, providing plenty of lift and deep layer shear,
especially when considering upper-level diffluence already in
place. Thunderstorms will form as this shortwave lifts, first
entering the St. George vicinity late morning and becoming
widespread by mid-afternoon as instability peaks.

While outflow winds are also possible along the leading edge of
these storms (especially over west-central and northwest Utah),
the environment will be very favorable for flash flooding,
notably across southern and eastern Utah and over sensitive areas
such as slot canyons and near recent burn scars. This flash flood
threat is especially high given recent rainfall across much of the
state. High-res guidance suggests storms will be capable of
producing rainfall rates potentially in excess of 1-2"/hr, with
average return intervals (ARIs) exceeding 10-20 years across much
of eastern and southern Utah...locally higher in places.

Conditions trend much drier after Monday, and even drier following
the passage of another shortwave trough mid-week. However, this
break may be short-lived. Model guidance suggest moisture of
tropical origins returns by the weekend, coupled with another
disturbance from the PacNW. Plenty of uncertainty still remains,
but this could yet again increase the flash flood threat heading
into next weekend.

&&

.AVIATION, Issued 1046 PM MDT Sun Aug 30 2026...

KSLC...There is around a 40% chance of light north to variable winds
for a period overnight. Southerly winds likely to increase by mid
morning Monday. Monday afternoon will see convection chances
increase through the afternoon, especially after around 21Z to 04Z
Tuesday. Storms will be capable of brief periods of heavy rain,
lightning, and gusty erratic outflow winds. Additionally, stronger
storms will be capable of brief categorical VIS reductions to MVFR
or so, as well as lowered CIGS.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Isolated showers and
thunderstorms will be possible overnight, especially across central
Utah. Winds will generally favor a diurnally normal direction. on
Sunday, southerly flow will increase as will cloud cover. Afternoon
showers and thunderstorms will once again become more widespread
through the afternoon hours, especially along and east of Utah's
high terrain. Like previous days, these storms will be capable of
periods of heavy rain, lightning, gusty erratic outflow winds, and
small hail. Additionally, the stronger storms will be capable of
periods of decreased VIS to around MFVR or so, as well as some
lowered CIGS. In general, coverage of showers and thunderstorms will
begin to wane late evening into the overnight hours.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...A significant push of moisture alongside a low pressure system
will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms across a majority
of Utah today, with high probability of wetting rains (50 to 85
percent) across the high terrain of central and southern Utah. In
concert with the widespread rainfall and thunderstorm activity,
high humidity is expected areawide, with very few locations
falling below 30 percent, and many struggling to fall below 40
percent.

A drying airmass will begin to push into the region on Tuesday,
initiating a drying trend through at least Thursday. While humidity
will remain relatively high on Tuesday, a more substantial drying
is expected into the middle of the week, with minimum afternoon
humidity falling back into the teens across the western half of
Utah. By Thursday, afternoon humidity in the teens is expected to
spread into the lower elevations of eastern Utah. An active area
of low pressure on the west coast will bring an increase in
southwest winds alongside this drying trend, bringing elevated to
near critical fire weather conditions across a portion of west-
central and southwest Utah on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.
For the high terrain across the state, very little, if any, shower
and thunderstorm activity is expected. Moisture looks to return
by the end of the week and over the weekend, bringing increasing
chances for showers and thunderstorms, as well as an increasing
trend in humidity.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Flood Watch through this evening for UTZ116>121-123>131.

WY...None.
&&

PUBLIC...Cunningham
AVIATION...Warthen
FIRE WEATHER...Webber

For more information from NOAA's National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/saltlakecity

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 31, 8:37 AM MDT, 1 hour 13 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
837 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0800 AM     Flash Flood      14 WNW Big Water        37.11N 111.91W
08/31/2026                   Kane               UT   Official NWS Obs

            429 cfs flood wave reported by the gauge at
            US-89.

&&

CRK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 30, 6:23 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCDuchesne52 min
Aug 30, 7:07 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCDuchesne38 min
Aug 31, 6:37 AM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCKane4 hr
Aug 31, 10:19 AM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCGarfield, Wayne3 hr
Aug 31, 10:46 AM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCEmery, Wayne4 hr
Aug 31, 10:59 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCIron46 min
Aug 31, 11:04 AM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCGarfield, Kane14 hr
Aug 31, 11:16 AM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCKane, Washington5 hr
Aug 31, 11:21 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLC39 min
Aug 31, 11:27 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCWashington48 min
Aug 31, 11:47 AM MDTAreal Flood AdvisorySLCWashington3 hr
Aug 31, 11:51 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCGarfield, Iron, Kane24 min
Aug 31, 12:04 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCWashington41 min
Aug 31, 12:06 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCWashington39 min
Aug 31, 12:07 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCMillard38 min
Aug 31, 12:16 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLC44 min
Aug 31, 12:20 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCGarfield3 hr
Aug 31, 1:00 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCKane, Washington3 hr
Aug 31, 1:05 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCKane40 min
Aug 31, 1:10 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLC50 min
Aug 31, 1:16 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCKane44 min
Aug 31, 1:43 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCBeaver47 min
Aug 31, 1:45 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCJuab, Millard45 min
Aug 31, 1:48 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCGarfield10 hr
Aug 31, 1:52 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCPiute3 hr
Aug 31, 2:04 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLC41 min
Aug 31, 2:22 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCWashington3 hr
Aug 31, 2:30 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCIron45 min
Aug 31, 2:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCJuab, Millard45 min
Aug 31, 2:40 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCSalt Lake35 min
Aug 31, 3:11 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCPiute3 hr
Aug 31, 3:13 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCJuab32 min
Aug 31, 3:39 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisorySLCGarfield3 hr
Aug 31, 3:41 PM MDTRiver Flood AdvisorySLCWashington8 hr
Aug 31, 3:58 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCKane, Washington9 hr
Aug 31, 4:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCSalt Lake51 min
Aug 31, 4:57 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCWayne33 min
Aug 31, 5:36 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCDavis, Weber24 min
Aug 31, 5:41 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCTooele34 min
Aug 31, 5:53 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCBox Elder, Tooele37 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Utah, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.