Alert archive / Utah / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 7, NWS Salt Lake City, UT
NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued this flash flood warning at Jul 15, 2026, 2:18 PM MDT for Kane 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
- Jul 15, 2026, 2:18 PM MDT (20:18 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 15, 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 Kane County, UT
The radar
The Cedar City radar (KICX), 99 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 5:00 PM MDT | FLASH FLOOD | 19 W Big Water, UT | Backcountry guide reported that Buckskin Gulch flashed at House Rock Valley Road and downstream to Buckskin Trailhead. |
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 162 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
Las Vegas, NV (KVEF), launched 12:00Z, 8.3 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
- 9 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -142 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 3001 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 9 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- -8 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 14 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
890
WGUS55 KSLC 152018
FFWSLC
UTC025-152315-
/O.NEW.KSLC.FF.W.0007.260715T2018Z-260715T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
218 PM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026
The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Southwestern Kane County in southern Utah...Specifically for Wire
Pass and Buckskin Gulch...
* Until 515 PM MDT.
* At 218 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain over Wire Pass and upper portions of Buckskin Gulck.
Between 0.25 and 0.35 inches of rain have fallen. Additional
rainfall amounts of 0.25 to 0.35 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.
IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of normally dry washes
and slot canyons.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch
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.
Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or
creeks.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 11210 3713 11207 3708 11188 3700 11178
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
GM2 follow-up statements
875
WGUS75 KSLC 152153
FFSSLC
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
353 PM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026
UTC025-152315-
/O.CON.KSLC.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260715T2315Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Kane UT-
353 PM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANE COUNTY...
At 353 PM MDT, Strong thunderstorms which have now moved south of
the area produced heavy rain in Wire Pass and upper portions of
Buckskin Gulch. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain has fallen. Flash
flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
flash flooding.
SOURCE...Radar.
IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of normally dry washes
and slot canyons.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.
Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain. Dry
washes, streams, and rivers can become raging killer currents in a
matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.
Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or
creeks.
&&
LAT...LON 3700 11210 3713 11207 3708 11188 3700 11178
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
$$
GM121 WGUS75 KSLC 152313 FFSSLC Flash Flood Statement National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT 513 PM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026 UTC025-152323- /O.EXP.KSLC.FF.W.0007.000000T0000Z-260715T2315Z/ /00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ Kane UT- 513 PM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026 ...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 515 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR SOUTHWESTERN KANE COUNTY... Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures. && LAT...LON 3700 11210 3713 11207 3708 11188 3700 11178 $$ GM
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 Jul 15, 12:16 PM MDT, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 15, 12:16 PM MDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1216 PM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026
.KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1213 PM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026...
- Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across
portions of central, southern, northeast UT, and southwest WY each
afternoon within this forecast as monsoonal moisture continues
making its way north. Chances and coverage increase for northern UT
starting Friday.
- The risk for flash flooding exists across the majority of the
forecast area, highlighted by WPC with a Marginal Risk (1/4) of
exceeding flash flood guidance. A Slight Risk (2/4) has been
introduced starting tomorrow for southwest UT, then extending across
the entirety of southern UT on Friday.
- A Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for southern UT and portions
of Central UT starting tomorrow afternoon, ending around midnight.
This watch may be extended as more forecast guidance comes in.
&&
.DISCUSSION, Issued 1213 PM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026...
Large-scale ridging persists across much of the
forecast area with monsoonal moisture advecting across the area
beneath it. Despite weak flow aloft, thunderstorms are forecast to
develop each day across the forecast area given persistent monsoonal
moisture in place raising PWATs across most lower elevation
locations to around 1-1.5". Thunderstorms are forecast to develop
along higher terrain before propagating along existing instability
axes as they generate a strong cold pool.
Regarding the flooding threat, todays environment yields another day
of conditional flooding given weaker instability across southern and
central UT. CAPE values on the order of 500-750J/kg are forecast to
overspread much of southern UT with warmer temperatures aloft
yielding a "skinny" CAPE profile indicative of efficient rainmaking
processes. However, the depth of the warm cloud layer remains
modest, resulting in more isolated instances of heavier rainfall
required for flash flooding. Regardless, the threat still exists as
highlighted by the WPC outlining the majority of UT within a
Marginal Risk (1/4) of exceeding flash flood guidance this
afternoon.
For tomorrow and Friday's flash flood threat, dewpoints increase
substantially across southern UT with widespread mid-upper 50s and
potentially low 60s developing in the afternoon. This will serve to
raise CAPE to around 750-1000J/kg and increasing overall storm
coverage in the afternoon. Additionally, forecast soundings indicate
a modest increase in warm-cloud layer depth, potentially enhancing
rain rates and thus increasing the flash flood threat across
southern UT tomorrow afternoon. Lastly, given weak upper level flow,
storm motions across CAMs are quite slow around 1-3kts which would
yield a flash flood threat with any storm that remains near-
stationary over problematic basins or burn scars. As such, the WPC
has outlined portions of southwest UT in a Slight Risk (2/4) of
exceeding flash flood guidance. Dewpoints continue to increase
further into the lower 60s across southwest UT and into the upper
50s across southeast UT, potentially yielding a more widespread
threat Friday afternoon. Some uncertainty exist on Friday regarding
cloud cover which may inhibit convective development further east
which will be monitored with upcoming forecast products.
The monsoonal pattern looks to continue through the remainder of the
forecast period and potentially beyond as ridging remains situated
over the western US amidst continual moisture return across the
Southwest. Finer details will continue to be ironed out, though the
daily flash flood threat appears to continue for quite some time
across much of southern and central UT.
&&
.AVIATION, Issued 1213 PM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026...
KSLC...Northerly winds will dominate through the afternoon. Though
there exists less than a 20% chance of convection at the terminal
this afternoon, there is good potential for easterly gusty outflow
winds between 01-04z. Typical southeasterlies are expected to resume
between 04-05z. A general mix of VFR cloud cover above 10 kft is
likely, with coverage varying with area convection.
REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...A similar convective pattern to
yesterday is expected with scattered showers and thunderstorms
across the region, with a corresponding potential for gusty erratic
outflow winds. The highest coverage area is roughly along and east
of Utah's high terrain and portions of southwest Utah through the
West Desert. That said, outflows may impact other terminals further
away from convection, particularly SGU and PVU and SVR. VFR cloud
cover generally above 10 kft is expected, though brief periods of
reduced CIGS/VIS possible in convection, particularly at CDC this
afternoon.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Currently, monsoonal moisture continues to surge north
into UT raising chances for showers and thunderstorms across the
state and humidities, both serving to moderate fire weather
conditions. Once again, chances for showers and thunderstorms (60-
80%) remain highest east of the I-15 corridor across southern and
central UT as well as the Uintas. These locations are also where
chances of a wetting rain are favored, though generally highest
across higher terrain. While chances for showers and thunderstorms
generally remain low across the remainder of northern UT and the
West Desert today and tomorrow, chances increase throughout the
remainder of the week as monsoonal moisture continues to increase
further north with time, bringing daily chances for showers and
thunderstorms to the whole state.
&&
.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Flood Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening for
UTZ121>131.
WY...None.
&&
PUBLIC...Worster
AVIATION...Verzella
FIRE WEATHER...Worster
For more information from NOAA's National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/saltlakecityIn the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 15, 11:52 AM MDT, 2 hours 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1152 AM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026
UTZ117-121-151845-
San Rafael Swell UT-Central Mountains UT-
1152 AM MDT Wed Jul 15 2026
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Emery
and southeastern Sevier Counties through 1245 PM MDT
...
At 1152 AM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 16
miles northeast of Loa, or 33 miles east of Richfield, moving
southeast at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch 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 southwestern Emery
and southeastern Sevier Counties.
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 3850 11150 3864 11166 3874 11151 3862 11123
TIME...MOT...LOC 1752Z 310DEG 5KT 3862 11151
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
crkThe office that day
Everything else NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 10:35 AM MDT | Flood Watch | SLC | Beaver, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute and 4 more | 36 hr |
| Jul 15, 11:52 AM MDT | Special Weather Statement | SLC | Sevier | 53 min |
| Jul 15, 12:57 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Kane | 3 hr |
| Jul 15, 3:12 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Kane, Washington | 3 hr |
| Jul 15, 4:28 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Washington | 3 hr |
| Jul 15, 4:59 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | SLC | Beaver | 2 hr |
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.