Alert archive / Utah / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 77, NWS Salt Lake City, UT

August 13, 2026Washington County, Utah

NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued this flash flood warning at Aug 13, 2026, 3:38 PM MDT for Washington 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 13, 2026, 3:38 PM MDT (21:38 UTC)
Expired
Aug 13, 2026, 6:30 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), 63 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:40 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 13, 4:30 PM MDTFLASH FLOOD3 S Pine Vly, UTUSGS Gauge showed a 2 foot flash flood wave on the Santa Clara River.

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 52 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, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 211 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 2026-08-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 307 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 2026-08-13The 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
307 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-191 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1708 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
48 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
74 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

885 
WGUS55 KSLC 132138
FFWSLC
UTC053-140030-
/O.NEW.KSLC.FF.W.0077.260813T2138Z-260814T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
338 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  The Forsyth Burn Scar in...
  Central Washington County in southwestern Utah...

* Until 630 PM MDT.

* At 338 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain over the Forsyth Burn Scar. Between 0.5 and 1.25 inches
  of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin
  shortly. Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in
  debris flows within the Pine Valley Recreation Area, with flooding
  expected downstream along the Santa Clara River to just below Baker
  Reservoir. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and
  other loose materials.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
           flash flooding in and around the Forsyth Burn Scar
           downstream to just below Baker Reservoir.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around the
           Forsyth Burn Scar.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Pine Valley.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This is a life threatening situation. Heavy rainfall will cause
extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks...streams...and ditches
in the Forsyth Burn Scar. Severe debris flows can also be anticipated
across roads. Roads and driveways may be washed away in places. If
you encounter flood waters...climb to safety.

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

Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become
unstable and unsafe.

&&

LAT...LON 3734 11343 3740 11340 3743 11344 3743 11347
      3742 11354 3742 11361 3734 11369 3733 11367
      3740 11361 3740 11355 3738 11352 3734 11352
      3731 11345 3731 11344

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

$$

GM
2 follow-up statements
939 
WGUS75 KSLC 132317
FFSSLC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
517 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026

UTC053-140030-
/O.CON.KSLC.FF.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260814T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Washington UT-
517 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE FORSYTH BURN SCAR REMAINS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 630 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY...

At 517 PM MDT, The Santa Clara near Pine Valley USGS gage has
reported a rise between 2 to 2.5 feet at the gage site. Between 0.5
and 1.25 inches of rain have fallen from earlier thunderstorms. Flash
flooding is already occurring.


HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding in and around the Forsyth Burn Scar
         downstream to just below Baker Reservoir.

SOURCE...USGS Gage reported.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around the
         Forsyth Burn Scar.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Pine Valley.

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.

Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become
unstable and unsafe.

&&

LAT...LON 3734 11343 3740 11340 3743 11344 3743 11347
      3742 11354 3742 11361 3734 11369 3733 11367
      3740 11361 3740 11355 3738 11352 3734 11352
      3731 11345 3731 11344

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

$$

GM
052 
WGUS75 KSLC 140031
FFSSLC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
631 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026

UTC053-140041-
/O.EXP.KSLC.FF.W.0077.000000T0000Z-260814T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Washington UT-
631 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE FORSYTH BURN SCAR HAS EXPIRED FOR
CENTRAL WASHINGTON COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended over the Forsyth burn scar. Flood waters
have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please
continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 1200 PM MDT Friday for portions
of central, southern, and southwest Utah.

&&

LAT...LON 3734 11343 3740 11340 3743 11344 3743 11347
      3742 11354 3742 11361 3734 11369 3733 11367
      3740 11361 3740 11355 3738 11352 3734 11352
      3731 11345 3731 11344

$$

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 Aug 13, 12:31 PM MDT, 3 hours 7 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Monsoonal moisture looks to bring daily chances for showers and thunderstorms across much of UT through Friday before drying out this weekend.
  • A flash flood threat exists across southwest UT and the central UT mountains this afternoon. Confidence is highest regarding impacts across southwest UT.
  • A severe weather threat exists across northern UT today with damaging winds (>58mph) as the primary threat.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 12:31 PM MDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1231 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Monsoonal moisture looks to bring daily chances for showers and
thunderstorms across much of UT through Friday before drying out
this weekend.

- A flash flood threat exists across southwest UT and the central UT
mountains this afternoon. Confidence is highest regarding impacts
across southwest UT.

- A severe weather threat exists across northern UT today with
damaging winds (>58mph) as the primary threat.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Troughing strengthens across much of the West Coast
today as ridging weakens somewhat across the southwest today
enabling another monsoonal moisture push this afternoon. This will
result in a flash flood threat across southwestern UT and portions
of central UT this afternoon, as well as a severe weather threat
across northern UT, western UT, and extreme southwestern UT.
Following todays threat, conditions look to dry out through the
weekend, potentially into midweek next week.

An H5 trough situated over the PNW continues to deepen this
afternoon with multiple shortwave perturbations progressing SW to NE
across the great basin will provide ascent for multiple rounds of
scattered showers and thunderstorms this afternoon across UT.
Currently across southwestern UT, leftover subsidence from earlier
thunderstorms this morning has resulted in a convective lull which
is expected to last through around noon-2pm MT this afternoon as a
deepening shortwave pushes into the state with flow enhancing aloft.
The flooding threat is forecast to continue to increase with these
storms through the afternoon as PWATs continue to increase,
characterized by values in excess of 1.2", perhaps higher as CAM
guidance has not handled this well today (i.e. recent Dugway
sounding characterized by 1.3" PWATs in the West Desert), indicating
that values may actually be higher across SW UT. Additionally,
training storms may result in rather high rainfall rates reaching
and/or exceeding 0.5"/hr. This raises concern for recent burn scars,
such as Cottonwood, Forsyth, Monroe Canyon, France Canyon, Silver
King, and the new Widemouth 2 burn scar.

Further north, showers are ongoing across much of northern UT
spurred by WAA in the midlevels. These showers will continue to
dissipate through the morning, with stronger storms expected to form
after 4pm MT as the shortwave impulse deepens with a 30kt H5 jet
developing overhead. Strong upper diffluence is forecast to develop
with perhaps multiple 50kt jet streaks developing overhead around
the time of CI, resulting in EBWD values from 30-40kts this
afternoon supporting the potential for a couple supercells this
afternoon. The primary threat with these thunderstorms are severe
wind gusts in excess of 58mph, particularly if they can root
effectively within the boundary layer this afternoon. Some
uncertainty regarding this exists due to persistent cloud cover,
though diurnal heating with current cloud breaks supports some
airmass recovery this afternoon in the midst of dewpoints in the
upper 50s to low 60s. Lastly, this threat is enhanced as the early
morning convection has left behind a few different outflow
boundaries, in particular north of the airport toward the bountiful
area as well as another potentially closer to the ID border. This
will locally enhance vorticity, and with daytime heating expected to
increase MLCAPE to at least 150J/kg, support some stronger and
potentially longer-lived storms developing.

With the ridge pushing east and dry air advecting in tomorrow with
the aforementioned trough pushing in, PoPs decrease somewhat
tomorrow afternoon statewide. The flash flood threat exists across
far southwest UT once again as the moisture reservoir of higher
PWATs remains in place, though precip will begin to favor higher
terrain otherwise. Into this weekend through potentially midweek
next week, mid-level moisture will remain in place as the ridge
continues sliding east favoring terrain-driven thunderstorms and a
lower-elevation drying trend. Ensemble guidance continues to push
back the true return to monsoonal moisture, potentially after
Wednesday next week.

&&

.AVIATION, Issued 1230 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026...
KSLC, Issued 1230 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026...
Watching for the development of thunderstorms
around the terminal this evening, with storm motion from southwest
to northeast. These storms could drive some gusty and erratic winds,
with the peak gusts potentially pushing 45 kts. Most likely timing
remains 23-01Z though could see activity as early as 19Z and persist
as late as 03Z. Storms directly overhead the terminal have the
potential to produce significant heavy rainfall. A currently very
low probability of overnight storms between 06-10Z exists.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Showers and thunderstorms
across northern Utah and southwest Wyoming persist, with recent
observations indicating these cells are producing very heavy
rainfall and gusty winds. There is a 5-10% chance of wind gusts in
excess of 58 mph near thunderstorms this evening. For southern Utah,
a lesser wind potential exists with heavy rain, low ceilings, and
reduced visibility (MVFR to IFR) in these rain shafts the primary
threat.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...A monsoonal surge will bring showers and
thunderstorms with the potential for severe wind gusts (>58mph) to
much of UT today as well as the potential for flash flooding
across southwestern and central UT. Both severe and flash flooding
threats taper off somewhat tomorrow, though afternoon
thunderstorms capable of heavy rain and gusty and erratic outflow
winds are expected. Humidities will begin to decrease heading into
next week with lower elevation locations potentially dropping
below 20% starting Monday as we continue to dry out. A return to
monsoonal moisture is possible following midweek, though this
remains uncertain at this time and the drying trend remains
somewhat favored through the long term.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...Flood Watch through Friday morning for UTZ116-117-122>129.

WY...None.
&&

PUBLIC...Worster
AVIATION...Wessler
FIRE WEATHER...Worster

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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 13, 2:48 PM MDT, 50 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
248 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026

UTZ123-124-128-132130-
South Central Utah UT-Zion National Park UT-
Lower Washington County UT-
248 PM MDT Thu Aug 13 2026

...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southeastern
Washington County through 330 PM MDT
...

At 248 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Hurricane to near Apple Valley. Movement
was northeast at 15 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.

Locations impacted include...
Zion National Park, Hurricane, La Verkin, Apple Valley, Toquerville,
Virgin, Springdale, Rockville, and Pintura.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

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

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

LAT...LON 3710 11333 3735 11327 3736 11290 3710 11301
TIME...MOT...LOC 2048Z 205DEG 15KT 3712 11329 3712 11303

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

JCW

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 12, 6:14 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisorySLCWashington3 hr
Aug 13, 1:30 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCWashington45 min
Aug 13, 3:16 AM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCKane, Washington3 hr
Aug 13, 3:52 AM MDTAreal Flood AdvisorySLCWashington113 min
Aug 13, 4:23 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCKane52 min
Aug 13, 9:40 AM MDTFlood WatchSLCBeaver, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Juab, Kane and 6 more38 hr
Aug 13, 2:10 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCWashington35 min
Aug 13, 2:48 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCWashington42 min
Aug 13, 3:11 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCWashington5 hr
Aug 13, 3:20 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCTooele40 min
Aug 13, 3:28 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCGarfield, Wayne3 hr
Aug 13, 3:32 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCKane3 hr
Aug 13, 3:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCKane36 min
Aug 13, 3:54 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCMillard36 min
Aug 13, 3:58 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCTooele47 min
Aug 13, 4:36 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCTooele39 min
Aug 13, 4:47 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCJuab, Tooele58 min
Aug 13, 5:32 PM MDTTornado WarningSLCTooele28 min
Aug 13, 5:33 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatSLCTooele42 min
Aug 13, 5:46 PM MDTTornado WarningSLCTooele26 min
Aug 13, 5:56 PM MDTTornado WarningSLCTooele34 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.