Alert archive / Utah / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 103, NWS Salt Lake City, UT
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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 10:25 AM MDT | FLASH FLOOD | 2 Ne Escalante, UT | River 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.
- 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
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
$$
CRK3 follow-up statements
193
WGUS75 KSLC 311634
FFSSLC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1034 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026
UTC017-311845-
/O.CON.KSLC.FF.W.0103.000000T0000Z-260831T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Garfield UT-
1034 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1245 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR CENTRAL GARFIELD COUNTY...
At 1034 AM MDT, gauge reports indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the warned area. Between 0.25 and 0.75 inches of rain
have fallen. Flash flooding is already occurring. The river gauge on
Pine Creek near the Escalante River indicated a 171 cfs flood wave
hit the gauge around 915 AM.
HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
flash flooding.
SOURCE...Gauges reported.
IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of normally dry washes, slot
canyons, creeks, streams and rivers.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Escalante, Pine Creek, Death Hollow, and the Escalante River
Canyon.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain. Dry
washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.
&&
LAT...LON 3791 11172 3777 11164 3777 11146 3793 11156
3792 11166
FLASH FLOOD...GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
CRK261
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
$$
CRK037
WGUS75 KSLC 311837
FFSSLC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1237 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026
UTC017-311847-
/O.EXP.KSLC.FF.W.0103.000000T0000Z-260831T1845Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Garfield UT-
1237 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 1245 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
CENTRAL GARFIELD COUNTY...
The heavy rain has ended however enhanced runoff will continue across
the area. Additional thunderstorms will impact the region through
this evening. A Flood Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT
Monday.
&&
LAT...LON 3791 11172 3777 11164 3777 11146 3793 11156
3792 11166
$$
CRKWhat 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.
&&
CRKThe office that day
Everything else NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 6:23 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Duchesne | 52 min |
| Aug 30, 7:07 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Duchesne | 38 min |
| Aug 31, 6:37 AM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Kane | 4 hr |
| Aug 31, 10:19 AM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Garfield, Wayne | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 10:46 AM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Emery, Wayne | 4 hr |
| Aug 31, 10:59 AM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Iron | 46 min |
| Aug 31, 11:04 AM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Garfield, Kane | 14 hr |
| Aug 31, 11:16 AM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Kane, Washington | 5 hr |
| Aug 31, 11:21 AM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | 39 min | |
| Aug 31, 11:27 AM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Washington | 48 min |
| Aug 31, 11:47 AM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | SLC | Washington | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 11:51 AM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SLC | Garfield, Iron, Kane | 24 min |
| Aug 31, 12:04 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SLC | Washington | 41 min |
| Aug 31, 12:06 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Washington | 39 min |
| Aug 31, 12:07 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Millard | 38 min |
| Aug 31, 12:16 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | 44 min | |
| Aug 31, 12:20 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Garfield | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 1:00 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Kane, Washington | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 1:05 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Kane | 40 min |
| Aug 31, 1:10 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | 50 min | |
| Aug 31, 1:16 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Kane | 44 min |
| Aug 31, 1:43 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Beaver | 47 min |
| Aug 31, 1:45 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SLC | Juab, Millard | 45 min |
| Aug 31, 1:48 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Garfield | 10 hr |
| Aug 31, 1:52 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Piute | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 2:04 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | 41 min | |
| Aug 31, 2:22 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Washington | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 2:30 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Iron | 45 min |
| Aug 31, 2:30 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SLC | Juab, Millard | 45 min |
| Aug 31, 2:40 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Salt Lake | 35 min |
| Aug 31, 3:11 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Piute | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 3:13 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Juab | 32 min |
| Aug 31, 3:39 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | SLC | Garfield | 3 hr |
| Aug 31, 3:41 PM MDT | River Flood Advisory | SLC | Washington | 8 hr |
| Aug 31, 3:58 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Kane, Washington | 9 hr |
| Aug 31, 4:39 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Salt Lake | 51 min |
| Aug 31, 4:57 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Wayne | 33 min |
| Aug 31, 5:36 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Davis, Weber | 24 min |
| Aug 31, 5:41 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Tooele | 34 min |
| Aug 31, 5:53 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | SLC | Box Elder, Tooele | 37 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.