Flash Flood, Salt Lake
- When
- May 17, 11:20 AM MST to 1:20 PM MST
- Where
- Salt Lake County, East Mill Creek
- Coordinates
- 40.668, -111.924 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Flash Flood in Utah, May 17, 1996
The combination of the springtime run-off and heavy rainfall caused minor flooding to several drainage creeks just southeast of Salt Lake City. 70" fell in about a half-hours time.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS SLC wrote it up.
The combination of the springtime run-off and heavy rainfall caused minor flooding to several drainage creeks just southeast of Salt Lake City. From 0.50-0.70" fell in about a half-hours time. County officials reported minor flooding on Mill Creek at about 5th South. In addition both Big and Little Cottonwood Creeks exceeded bankful. Sandbagging efforts however prevented any damage from occurring.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
What these are
- Flash Flood
- Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornado in Minnesota, May 17, 1996
- Flash Flood in Indiana, May 17, 1996
- Heat in Missouri, May 17 to 20, 1996
- Flash Flood in Ohio, May 17, 1996
- Flood in Ohio, May 17, 1996
- Hail in Iowa, May 17, 1996
- Tornado in North Dakota, May 17, 1996
- Hail in Nebraska, May 17, 1996
- Tornado in Minnesota, May 17, 1996
- Tornado in Idaho, May 17, 1996
- Tornado in Idaho, May 17, 1996
- Flash Flood in North Dakota, May 17, 1996
More
Every storm in Utah in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, May 1996
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5569706.