Alert archive / Utah / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 112, NWS Salt Lake City, UT

August 31, 2026Washington County, Utah

NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued this flash flood warning at Aug 31, 2026, 2:22 PM MDT for Washington County, Utah. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 31, 2026, 2:22 PM MDT (20:22 UTC)
Expired
Aug 31, 2026, 5:15 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Salt Lake City, UT
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

County Washington County, UT

The radar

The Cedar City radar (KICX), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:24 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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

Las Vegas, NV (KVEF), launched 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 243 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, Las Vegas, NV at 12:00Z on 2026-08-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 303 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, Las Vegas, NV at 12:00Z on 2026-08-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 48 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
303 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-202 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2712 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
66 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

489 
WGUS55 KSLC 312022
FFWSLC
UTC053-312315-
/O.NEW.KSLC.FF.W.0112.260831T2022Z-260831T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  East Central Washington County in southwestern Utah...

* Until 515 PM MDT.

* At 222 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the Kolob Canyon portion of Zion National Park,
  including Taylor Creek and La Verkin Creek. Up to 0.75 inches of
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are
  possible in the warned area. 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, streams, slot
           canyons, and normally dry washes.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Kolob Canyon portion of Zion National Park, including the Middle
  and South Forks of Taylor Creek, La Verkin Creek, and Kolob Arch.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.

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 3747 11313 3743 11306 3740 11307 3738 11322
      3745 11322 3746 11325 3747 11324 3748 11315
      3747 11315

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

$$

JAC
2 follow-up statements
370 
WGUS75 KSLC 312151
FFSSLC

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

UTC053-312315-
/O.CON.KSLC.FF.W.0112.000000T0000Z-260831T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Washington UT-
351 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY...

At 351 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy
rain across the Kolob Canyon portion of Zion National Park, including
Taylor Creek and La Verkin Creek. 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, streams, slot
         canyons, and normally dry washes.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Kolob Canyon portion of Zion National Park, including the Middle
  and South Forks of Taylor Creek, La Verkin Creek, and Kolob Arch.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.

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 3747 11313 3743 11306 3740 11307 3738 11322
      3745 11322 3746 11325 3747 11324 3748 11315
      3747 11315

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

$$

JAC
533 
WGUS75 KSLC 312312
FFSSLC

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

UTC053-312322-
/O.EXP.KSLC.FF.W.0112.000000T0000Z-260831T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Washington UT-
512 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 515 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
EAST CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT for portions of
central and southern Utah.

&&

LAT...LON 3747 11313 3743 11306 3740 11307 3738 11322
      3745 11322 3746 11325 3747 11324 3748 11315
      3747 11315

$$

JAC

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, 12:54 PM MDT, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 12:54 PM MDT, 1 hour 28 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1254 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

.KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1117 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026...

- Numerous showers and thunderstorms capable of producing heavy
  rain this afternoon and evening will result in a heightened risk
  of flash flooding for the southern two-thirds of Utah, where a
  Flood Watch for flash flooding is in effect through this
  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.

- After some modest drying for the middle of the week, 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 for Labor Day weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION, Issued 1117 AM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026...
High pressure remains in place over the central
United States this morning, with a trough moving onshore over
California and a stronger trough moving into the Dakotas. In
between these features, Utah and southwest Wyoming are under a
southerly flow that is drawing deep monsoonal moisture northward.
Satellite derived PW values remain around 1.0 inch over southern
Utah, with values predominately in the 0.7 to 0.9 range elsewhere,
with the exception of far northern Utah.

Showers and thunderstorms have been bringing heavy rainfall across
portions of southern Utah through the morning, with many of these
cells producing flash flooding. The threat of flooding will only
increase and expand this afternoon as the California trough moves
across Utah, providing additional moisture and instability.
Increased coverage of convection will only increase a risk of
flash flooding that has been elevated all weekend, as indicated by
the rare moderate (level 3 of 4) risk of excessive rainfall
indicated bu the Weather Prediction Center. Additionally, many
areas, especially eastern Utah, have already seen heavy rain,
leading to saturated soils, further increasing the risk. With this
in mind, have expanded the going Flood Watch for flash flooding
to include the Book Cliffs, Uinta Basin, and west central and
southwest Utah.

The California trough is expected to exit the area by tomorrow
morning, with another low approaching the northern California
coast. Guidance indicates this will allow the southerly flow to
advect drier air into the area, at least over western Utah
beginning tomorrow afternoon, with the drier air becoming more
widespread Wednesday into Thursday as the second trough moves
across the Pacific Northwest into the Dakotas. For Tuesday,
guidance overall looks to be unusually quick with diminishing the
potential of thunderstorms and thus flash flooding, so have
increased POPs given recent trends.

The drying trend looks to be short lived, unfortunately, with a
lot of the longer range guidance indicating the southerly flow
increasing Friday into the Labor Day weekend with the approach of
another Pacific Northwest trough. This would allow a tap into an
even more deeply moist airmass from a tropical system, a rather
substantial influx of moisture and something we are keeping a very
close eye on.

&&

.AVIATION, Issued 1212 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026...

KSLC...Showers/thunderstorms will develop mid afternoon over the
Oquirrhs and begin to impact the terminal vicinity with a 30% chance
of gusty winds and towering cumulus. Southerly winds will become
established by mid-afternoon, gusty at times. There is then a 70%
chance that a more organized and widespread area of showers with
embedded thunderstorms will move through the Wasatch Front including
KSLC between 23Z and 02Z, bringing a greater threat of gusty and
erratic winds as well as heavy rain bringing a low chance of MVFR
visibilities and lower cigs. There is a threat of wind gusts as high
as 45 kts with this late afternoon/evening round of thunderstorms.
Quieter conditions are expected overnight with lighter southeasterly
winds.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Afternoon showers and
thunderstorms will develop across the majority of the region today,
initially over southern Utah (including KSGU and KCDC) through the
early afternoon, higher terrain through the mid afternoon, and
finally the majority of the Wasatch Front by late afternoon and
early evening. There is a 70% chance that the late-afternoon and
early evening thunderstorms over the Wasatch Front from Nephi
northward becomes a large area of rain with embedded strong
thunderstorms. Any storms will be capable of gusty and erratic winds
in addition to very heavy rainfall reducing visibility to at least
MVFR in addition to lowered ceilings. This activity should push
northward out of the area and come to an end by 03-06Z, with light
southerly winds persisting overnight into tomorrow.
Shower/thunderstorm coverage tomorrow looks to be more limited as
drier air moves into the region.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Showers and thunderstorms are continuing to
develop and will only increase in coverage across the entire
state into the evening as a low pressure system crosses the area
in an already moist airmass. This will bring a high chance (50 to
85 percent) of wetting rain, particularly for the higher terrain
of central and southern Utah. Relative humidities will also remain
on the high side, with very few locations falling below 30
percent. Drier air will start to move in from the west on Tuesday,
but this should not be noticeable for much of the area until
Wednesday into Thursday. This is likely to push minimum relative
humidity values into the teens across western Utah Wednesday into
Thursday. In combination with breezy southerly winds due to a low
along the Pacific coast, this could bring area of critical fire
weather conditions. The period of dry weather should be short
lived, however, with guidance increasingly indicating a
substantial surge of tropical moisture into Utah over the weekend.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Flood Watch until 9 PM MDT this evening for UTZ113>131.

WY...None.
&&

PUBLIC...Traphagan
AVIATION...Van Cleave
FIRE WEATHER...Traphagan

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 31, 1:16 PM MDT, 1 hour 6 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
116 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

UTZ128-312000-
South Central Utah UT-
116 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of central Kane County
through 200 PM MDT
...

At 115 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 19
miles northwest of Big Water, or 33 miles east of Kanab, moving north
at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of central Kane
County.

This includes US Route 89 between mile markers 29 and 33.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3719 11182 3716 11204 3735 11222 3745 11187
TIME...MOT...LOC 1915Z 157DEG 9KT 3721 11196

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

CRK
Local storm report, Aug 31, 1:41 PM MDT, 41 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
141 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

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

0130 PM     Flash Flood      Springdale              37.19N 113.00W
08/31/2026                   Washington         UT   Park/Forest Srvc

            Severe flooding in Springdale. SR-9 is
            impassible in parts of Springdale.

&&

CRK
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 1:43 PM MDT, 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
143 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

UTZ122-312030-
Southwest Utah UT-
143 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Beaver
and northwestern Iron Counties through 230 PM MDT
...

At 143 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 32
miles east of Ranch Campground, or 33 miles east of Ursine, moving
northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of south central
Beaver and northwestern Iron Counties.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3788 11360 3801 11381 3844 11336 3827 11310
TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 219DEG 27KT 3802 11359

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

CRK
Local storm report, Aug 31, 1:54 PM MDT, 28 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
154 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

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

0135 PM     Flash Flood      3 SSW Zion National Par 37.22N 112.97W
08/31/2026                   Washington         UT   Official NWS Obs

            Gauge at the North Fork of the Virgin River
            at Springdale rose to 2000 cfs and climbing.

&&

CRK
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 2:04 PM MDT, 18 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
204 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

UTZ125-128-312045-
South Central Utah UT-Southern Mountains UT-
204 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern
Garfield and northwestern Kane Counties through 245 PM MDT
...

At 204 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 16
miles east of Zion National Park, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Orderville, Glendale, Alton, and Long Valley Junction.

This includes US Route 89 between mile markers 83 and 105.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3722 11271 3728 11284 3759 11263 3742 11236
TIME...MOT...LOC 2004Z 217DEG 16KT 3727 11273

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

CRK
Local storm report, Aug 31, 2:12 PM MDT, 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
212 PM MDT Mon Aug 31 2026

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

0200 PM     Flash Flood      1 S Springdale          37.16N 113.00W
08/31/2026                   Washington         UT   Official NWS Obs

            Large flood wave on the East Fork of the
            Virgin River Gauge, 1000 cfs and climbing.

&&

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, 9:50 AM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCGarfield3 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, 2:30 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.