Alert archive / Utah / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 83, NWS Salt Lake City, UT

August 23, 2026Wayne County, Utah

NWS Salt Lake City, UT issued this flash flood warning at Aug 23, 2026, 1:14 PM MDT for Wayne 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 23, 2026, 1:14 PM MDT (19:14 UTC)
Expired
Aug 23, 2026, 4:15 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Salt Lake City, UT
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

County Wayne County, UT

The radar

The Cedar City radar (KICX), 168 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:17 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 23, 2:35 PM MDTFLASH FLOOD2 Sw Capitol Reef Np, UTGrand Wash is flashing. Time estimated.

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 81 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, 7.2 hours before the alert went out and 287 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 2026-08-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 275 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 2026-08-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 36 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
275 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-256 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1941 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
99 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

081 
WGUS55 KSLC 231914
FFWSLC
UTC055-232215-
/O.NEW.KSLC.FF.W.0083.260823T1914Z-260823T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
114 PM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026

The National Weather Service in Salt Lake City has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  South Central Wayne County in southern Utah...

* Until 415 PM MDT.

* At 114 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across portions of Capitol Reef National Park, including
  Grand Wash, Wonderland Canyon, Timpie Canyon, and Capitol Gorge.
  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...
  Caineville and portions of Capitol Reef National Park, including
  Grand Wash, Wonderland Canyon, Timpie Canyon, and Capitol Gorge.

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 3823 11131 3829 11120 3829 11109 3834 11103
      3832 11100 3826 11104 3817 11123

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

$$

JAC
2 follow-up statements
709 
WGUS75 KSLC 232047
FFSSLC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
247 PM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026

UTC055-232215-
/O.CON.KSLC.FF.W.0083.000000T0000Z-260823T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Wayne UT-
247 PM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTY...

At 247 PM MDT, National Park Service personnel reported flash
flooding occurring in Grand Wash from earlier thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across portions of Capitol Reef National Park. This
includes Grand Wash, Wonderland Canyon, Timpie Canyon, and Capitol
Gorge. Between 0.50 and 1.00 inches of rain have fallen. Flash
flooding is already occurring.

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

SOURCE...National Park Service personnel reported.

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

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Caineville and portions of Capitol Reef National Park, including
  Grand Wash, Wonderland Canyon, Timpie Canyon, and Capitol Gorge.

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 3823 11131 3829 11120 3829 11109 3834 11103
      3832 11100 3826 11104 3817 11123

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

JAC
007 
WGUS75 KSLC 232215
FFSSLC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
415 PM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026

UTC055-232225-
/O.EXP.KSLC.FF.W.0083.000000T0000Z-260823T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Wayne UT-
415 PM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WAYNE COUNTY...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat, though light showers may linger over the next couple of
hours. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3823 11131 3829 11120 3829 11109 3834 11103
      3832 11100 3826 11104 3817 11123

$$

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 23, 12:25 PM MDT, 49 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 23, 12:25 PM MDT, 49 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Salt Lake City UT
1225 PM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026

.KEY MESSAGES, Issued 1151 AM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026...

- A Slight Risk (level 2/5) for severe thunderstorms is outlooked
  this afternoon and evening across much of northern Utah. There
  is a 10% chance of wind gusts in excess of 70 mph with these
  thunderstorms.

- There is a Marginal Risk (level 1/4) for excessive rainfall
  across most of the region through early next week.

- Thunderstorms will continue to impact the higher terrain and
  adjacent valleys through Wednesday. Another round of more
  widespread thunderstorms is increasing in likelihood for Friday
  into early next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION, Issued 1151 AM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026...
Strong to severe convection will develop this
afternoon and evening, with the highest probability of significant
impacts (10% chance of wind gusts in excess of 70 mph) across
northern Utah. A Slight Risk (level 2/5) for severe thunderstorms
has been issued for this area by the Storm Prediction Center.
Looking at the set-up, this morning's 12Z sounding at KSLC already
showed almost 1000 J/kg MUCAPE but with a fairly stout amount of
convective inhibition. Latest guidance suggests this effective cap
will erode by 20-21Z, allowing for robust convective development
across northern Utah. Mean HREF SBCAPE indicates a broad area of
values near to above around 1000-1500 J/kg across northern Utah
coincident with deep layer shear around 25-30 kts.

Weak surface convergence associated with a shortwave trough
passing to the north may help to organize convection into a
quasi-linear feature, though per typical in terrain, this is
difficult to discern in model fields. The latest few HRRR runs do
show a signature of an organized line of very strong outflow
shifting across the west desert and into the Wasatch Front
between 21Z and 01Z and then continuing to be quite strong into
the Uinta County, WY area by 02-03Z. Peak wind gusts in these runs
have increased to 55kts, but given the very steep lapse rates,
relatively high instability for the Great Basin, modest deep layer
shear and low LCLs, expect storms to be able to attain cold
pool/shear balance. Saturday's convective outflow peak was 80 mph
near Grassey on I-80...cant rule out a repeat somewhere along this
area of outflow winds this afternoon and evening.

For areas south of I-70, the heavy rain threat continues. While
HREF peak 1 hour rates have decreased over Saturday's values, net
available moisture has only decreased subtly. Expect any stronger
thunderstorms, especially those tied to terrain features and/or
training, to be capable of rainfall rates in excess of 0.50 inches
per hour. Will need to monitor for flash flood threat across much
of this area...especially for slot canyons, normally dry washes
and recent burn scars.

With the previously mentioned upper level trough passing to the
east Monday, the best chance for strong outflow winds will shift
to mainly the Utah/Idaho border region. Convection will become
increasingly tied to the higher terrain and adjacent valleys
through Wednesday...with only isolated convection expected
Thursday as high pressure brings a drying trend to most
locations.

However...with the tropical eastern Pacific remaining quite
active, at least a portion of ensemble members indicate the next
trough approaching the Pacific Northwest will assist in shifting
remnant tropical moisture into the Great Basin by Friday. This is
something to watch moving forward.

&&

.AVIATION, Issued 1151 AM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026...
KSLC, Issued 1151 AM MDT Sun Aug 23 2026...
A few thunderstorms will begin to develop over
the Salt Lake Valley after 20z or so, resulting in low confidence
in wind direction with any outflow winds. After 00z, a more
organized cluster of thunderstorms is looking more likely to
impact the terminal, bringing a chance for lightning, MVFR VIS due
to moderate- heavy rain, and gusty outflow winds. Winds could
even exceed 50kts out of the west (or become variable) as this
line moves through. There is still some uncertainty with the
timing of this cluster. Weaker showers will linger in the area
until 07z or so, with breezy easterly winds slowly becoming
lighter out of the southeast.

REST OF UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING...Scattered showers and
thunderstorms will continue to develop this afternoon across UT
and southwest WY, with lower chances at KCDC and KSGU. Any showers
will be capable of producing strong and erratic outflow winds,
with the strongest winds across northern UT/southwest WY. Here,
winds are more likely to briefly exceed 50kts or even 65kts near
the strongest storms. A more organized cluster of thunderstorms
will sweep through KTVY-KSLC-KOGD-KEVW between roughly 00-05z,
which may produce very strong winds, MVFR VIS due to moderate-
heavy rain, and lightning. There is still uncertainty with exact
timing of this cluster.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...High pressure will remain across the Four-Corners
region through the next week. As an upper level low crosses
southern Canada into the northern Intermountain Region through
Monday, sufficient forcing for thunderstorms will continue. As a
result, strong to severe thunderstorms will impact much of
northern Utah this afternoon and evening. The most significant
threat will be strong outflow winds in excess of 60 mph, mainly
north of I-70. For locations south of I-70, strong outflow winds
up to 50 mph and very heavy rain will be the primary impacts from
thunderstorms.

Additional strong thunderstorms will develop Monday afternoon and
evening, but the threat of outflows in excess of 50 mph will
remain closer to the Utah/Idaho border. As high pressure builds
north and east in the wake of the upper level low Tuesday,
thunderstorms will become more confined to the higher terrain and
adjacent valleys through Thursday. A net drying trend will
continue, with most valleys see humidities fall to critical levels
by midweek. Another round of thunderstorms may impact more of the
state as early as Friday as another low pressure area impacts the
Pacific Northwest and pulls moisture from the tropical Pacific
northeastward into the Great Basin.

&&

.SLC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
UT...None.
WY...None.
&&

PUBLIC...
AVIATION...
FIRE WEATHER...Kruse

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

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 22, 6:21 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCBox Elder, Davis, Tooele, Weber24 min
Aug 22, 6:54 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCDavis51 min
Aug 22, 7:18 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCWeber42 min
Aug 22, 7:29 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatSLCBox Elder, Cache, Weber46 min
Aug 22, 7:59 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCMorgan46 min
Aug 22, 8:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCCache20 min
Aug 22, 8:49 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCDavis41 min
Aug 22, 8:50 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCDavis40 min
Aug 22, 9:35 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCKane25 min
Aug 23, 1:29 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCWayne46 min
Aug 23, 1:53 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCDuchesne52 min
Aug 23, 2:15 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCWayne45 min
Aug 23, 2:31 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLC44 min
Aug 23, 2:48 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningSLCBox Elder42 min
Aug 23, 3:19 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatSLCGarfield, Wayne5 hr
Aug 23, 3:19 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCSalt Lake41 min
Aug 23, 3:27 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCBox Elder33 min
Aug 23, 3:52 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCBox Elder38 min
Aug 23, 4:00 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCTooele45 min
Aug 23, 4:01 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCSalt Lake44 min
Aug 23, 4:32 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCBox Elder43 min
Aug 23, 4:49 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLC41 min
Aug 23, 5:20 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCBox Elder40 min
Aug 23, 5:34 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCBox Elder41 min
Aug 23, 5:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementSLCTooele51 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.