Flash Flood and Hail in Utah, October 2, 1997

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in Utah, October 2, 1997
Start: 1997-10-02T07:32
End: 1997-10-02T19:30
Location: Utah

October 2, 1997 · NWS SLC · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A fast moving cold front moved through Utah on this date. Deep tropical moisture flowed up into Utah ahead of this front.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

A fast moving cold front moved through Utah on this date. Deep tropical moisture flowed up into Utah ahead of this front. Scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain and small hail occurred. 2 severe thunderstorms and a flash flood developed. One thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 67 mph (58 kts) at the National Weather Service office at the Salt Lake International Airport. Hail 3/4" in diameter was reported by the Utah Highway Patrol just south of Kanab. Flash flooding occurred on both the North and East Forks of the Virgin River in Zion National Park. Several hikers were trapped in the Narrows area and had to be rescued. Kanab measured 1.41" of rain and the Zion NP headquarters 0.65" during this time.

The radar

The Salt Lake City radar (KMTX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Salt Lake

When: October 2, 7:32 AM MST to 7:34 AM MST
Where: Salt Lake County, (Slc)salt Lake City
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph)
Coordinates: 40.720, -111.920

Hail, Kane

When: October 2, 12:25 PM MST to 12:35 PM MST
Where: Kane County, 3 mi S of Kanab
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 37.000, -112.530

Flash Flood, Washington

When: October 2, 6:30 PM MST to 7:30 PM MST
Where: Washington County, Zion National Park
Coordinates: 37.280, -113.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

Every storm in Utah in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Utah, October 1997

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: 5623830, 5623831, 5623832.