Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Utah, August 22 to 26, 2013

Name: Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Utah, August 22 to 26, 2013
Start: 2013-08-22T21:50
End: 2013-08-26T20:05
Location: Utah

August 22 to 26, 2013 · NWS SLC · 13 events in 8 counties and zones

Deep moisture remained in place over Utah, resulting in continued flash flooding in central and southern Utah, particularly at burn scars. In northern Utah, several thunderstorms became severe, producing gusty winds and large hail.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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: $20,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Aug 22, 8:46 PM MST, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 22, 8:46 PM MST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
946 PM MDT THU AUG 22 2013

.SYNOPSIS...DEEP MOISTURE WILL DEVELOP SUNDAY INTO EARLY IN THE
WORK WEEK EXPANDING COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND
LEADING TO COOLER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE REGION.

&&

.DISCUSSION...WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A DISTURBANCE LIFTING OVER THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING TROUGH. A RIDGE IS LOCATED
ACROSS THE PLAINS. ACARS 400-250MB WIND OBSERVATIONS PLACE A 50-70KT
CYCLONICALLY CURVED JET OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND WESTERN GREAT
BASIN. RAP...GOES...GPS SENSORS...AND 00Z SLC RAOB INDICATE
PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES RANGE FROM 0.80" FAR NORTHERN UTAH TO
1.60" ACROSS FAR SOUTHEAST UTAH.

THERE HAVE BEEN NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES WITH SOME OF OUR
PRODUCTS THIS EVENING SO IF ANYTHING IS MISSING...REST ASSURED
TECHNICIANS ARE WORKING ON THE ISSUE.

MOISTURE BEING DRAWN INTO THE REGION BETWEEN THE TROUGH TO THE WEST
AND RIDGE TO OUR EAST. BEING IN THE MAIN FLOW...DISTURBANCES ARE
ROTATING OVERHEAD. THIS IS THE CAUSE FOR AN ORGANIZED BATCH OF
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CURRENTLY OVER THE WASATCH FRONT. RADAR
TRENDS AND HRRR-3KM TAKE THIS CONVECTION TO THE NORTHEAST OVERNIGHT.
NO REASON TO THINK IT DISSIPATES TOO QUICKLY WITH RADAR TRENDS
SHOWING NEW CELLS DEVELOPING TO THE SOUTH AND PROPAGATING INTO THE
FEATURE...SO RAISED POPS TO LIKELY WASATCH FRONT TO THE NORTHEAST.

ELSEWHERE...HOLD ON TO THE IDEA OF ISOLATED TO SCATTERED CONVECTION
OVERNIGHT. THIS IS ONGOING ACROSS NORTHWEST UTAH WITH BETTER SHEAR
DUE TO PROXIMITY OF THE DISTURBANCE OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
EXPECT ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY TO DEVELOP OVERNIGHT FROM ARIZONA
NORTHWARD PER SATELLITE AND HRRR-3KM TRENDS.

BUMPED UP CLOUD COVER SIGNIFICANTLY. TWEAKED TEMPERATURES MAINLY THE
DIURNAL CURVE. REST UNCHANGED.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION FOLLOWS...
AN UPPER LEVEL LOW CURRENTLY LOCATED NEAR THE
CALIFORNIA/OREGON BORDER REGION WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH TONIGHT. SOUTHERLY FLOW AHEAD OF THIS LOW
WILL KEEP SUFFICIENT MOISTURE ACROSS THE STATE FOR CONVECTIVE
DEVELOPMENT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. CURRENTLY THUNDERSTORM
COVERAGE IS RELATIVELY ISOLATED...BUT THIS MAY INCREASE IN
COVERAGE OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND
INCREASE POPS IF NECESSARY. AS THE LOW CONTINUES NORTHEASTWARD
TONIGHT...THERE MAY BE ENOUGH FORCING TO KEEP CONVECTION GOING
INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS ACROSS NORTHERN UTAH.

THE NEXT BIG QUESTION MARK IS THE IMPACT OF A TROPICAL SYSTEM IN
THE EASTERN PACIFIC FOR THE LATTER PART OF THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY
NEXT WEEK. AS A TROUGH APPROACHES THE WEST COAST OF THE UNITED
STATES...A DEEP LAYER OF TROPICAL MOISTURE IS DRAWN NORTHWARD INTO
ARIZONA AND UTAH. THE ENTRANCE REGION TO A JET STREAK ON THE
EASTERN SIDE OF THE LONGWAVE TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO SET UP ACROSS
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UTAH SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. THE LAST SEVERAL GFS
RUNS HAVE SHOWN A VERY STRONG MOISTURE SURGE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
SYSTEM...COUPLED WITH STRONG DYNAMICS. ISSUED AN SPS TO ALERT
ANYONE LIVING IN OR TRAVELING TO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UTAH SUNDAY
INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK OF THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AND
COOLER TEMPERATURES.

MANY TIMES...GLOBAL MODELS HAVE INDICATED A TROPICAL MOISTURE
SURGE ADVECTED INTO UTAH AHEAD OF A TROUGH...MUCH LIKE THE CURRENT
GFS. AND MANY TIMES DUE TO VARIOUS MODELING ISSUES...THE TROPICAL
MOISTURE SURGE HAS NOT COME TO FRUITION. WHILE CONFIDENCE IS
RELATIVELY HIGH THAT A PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION WILL OCCUR ACROSS
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UTAH SUNDAY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...CONFIDENCE
IN THE CURRENT SOLUTION OF THE GFS WITH THE ATTENDANT HEAVY
RAINFALL IS STILL ON THE LOW SIDE PARTLY DUE TO PAST MODEL
PERFORMANCE. IF FUTURE MODEL RUNS CONTINUE TO SHOW THIS
SOLUTION...CONFIDENCE WILL INCREASE.

&&

.AVIATION...EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS AT THE KSLC TERMINAL THROUGH
TONIGHT. ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP OVER THE NEARBY MOUNTAINS THIS EVENING WITH SOME OF THESE
STORMS MOVING INTO THE TERMINAL VICINITY. THESE STORMS MAY DELIVER
SOME BRIEF REDUCTION IN VISIBILITY IN RAIN AT THE TERMINAL. GUSTY
ERRATIC WINDS THROUGH 05Z DUE TO CONVECTION. SOUTHEAST FLOW WILL
LIKELY MAKE ITS PRESENCE AFTER THE SHOWERS PASS...BETWEEN 05-07Z.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...AN EXTENSIVE DEEP LAYER MOISTURE PLUME WILL REMAIN
OVER ALL BUT THE EXTREME NORTHWEST PORTION OF THE FIRE DISTRICTS THE
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THE AREAL COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WILL BE SLIGHTLY REDUCED THROUGH SATURDAY...THOUGH ANYTHING THAT
DOES FORM WILL HAVE A GOOD CHANCE AT PRODUCING WETTING RAINS ACROSS
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UTAH. A FURTHER INCREASE IN MOISTURE BEGINNING
SUNDAY MAY OFFER UP THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD WETTING RAINS FOR
THE SOUTHERN TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE SUNDAY...AND POSSIBLY INTO
MONDAY. THIS MOISTURE WILL LINGER OVER ALL BUT THE EXTREME NORTHWEST
PORTION OF UTAH THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK. SCATTERED COVERAGE OF
WETTING RAINS IS ANTICIPATED...WITH THE GREATEST THREAT FOR THE
HIGHER TERRAIN OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL UTAH.

&&

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

PUBLIC...ROGOWSKI/KRUSE
FIRE WEATHER...CONGER
AVIATION...VERZELLA

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY (ALL LOWER CASE)

FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY/GENERAL/AFD_FAQS.PHP (ALL LOWER CASE)

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 22, 3:28 PM MST, 6 hours 22 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
428 PM MDT THU AUG 22 2013

UTZ001>016-019>021-517-518-WYZ021-231230-
CACHE VALLEY/UTAH PORTION-NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
SALT LAKE AND TOOELE VALLEYS-SOUTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS-WASATCH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
WESTERN UINTA BASIN-CASTLE COUNTRY-SAN RAFAEL SWELL-
SANPETE/SEVIER VALLEYS-WEST CENTRAL UTAH-SOUTHWEST UTAH-
UTAHS DIXIE AND ZION NATIONAL PARK-SOUTH CENTRAL UTAH-
GLEN CANYON RECREATION AREA/LAKE POWELL-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST WYOMING-
428 PM MDT THU AUG 22 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF
UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS MOST OF THE
OUTLOOK AREA THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME OF THESE STORMS WILL PRODUCE
LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS. ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING IS
POSSIBLE IN THE MORE PRONE DRY WASHES AND SLOT CANYONS IN SOUTHERN
UTAH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY
ACROSS MUCH OF THE OUTLOOK AREA. DEEP MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE
BACK INTO THE AREA STARTING SUNDAY AND REMAIN THROUGH EARLY NEXT
WEEK. THIS WILL BRING ANOTHER INCREASE IN PRECIPITATION AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY (ALL LOWER CASE)

FOR INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL TRAVEL IMPACTS VISIT...
HTTP://WWW.UDOTTRAFFIC.UTAH.GOV/ROADWEATHERFORECAST.ASPX

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 22, 4:36 PM MST, 5 hours 14 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
536 PM MDT THU AUG 22 2013

UTZ002-003-005-230030-
GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS UT-NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT
UT-SALT LAKE AND TOOELE VALLEYS UT-
536 PM MDT THU AUG 22 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN DAVIS...
SOUTHERN BOX ELDER AND NORTHERN TOOELE COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM MDT...

AT 530 PM MDT...STORM SPOTTERS REPORTED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A
LINE EXTENDING FROM 18 MILES NORTH OF KNOLLS TO 14 MILES SOUTH OF
DELLE...AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. BLOWING DUST AND SALT WILL
ACCOMPANY THE STRONGEST WINDS IN THESE AREAS.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
   INTERSTATE 80 IN WESTERN TOOELE COUNTY...
   DELLE...
   LAKESIDE...

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 55 MPH. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

LAT...LON 4143 11306 4082 11225 4045 11317 4083 11380
TIME...MOT...LOC 2335Z 251DEG 30KT 4098 11333 4058 11275

GM

Special weather statement, Aug 22, 5:47 PM MST, 4 hours 3 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
647 PM MDT THU AUG 22 2013

UTZ002-005-230145-
GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS UT-NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT UT-
647 PM MDT THU AUG 22 2013

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN DAVIS...SOUTHWESTERN
WEBER...EASTERN BOX ELDER AND EXTREME NORTHEASTERN TOOELE COUNTIES
UNTIL 745 PM MDT...

AT 644 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 32 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF PARK VALLEY TO 21 MILES WEST OF HOOPER...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT
30 MPH.

WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG
WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
   ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK...
   GOLDEN SPIKE HISTORIC SITE AND  PROMONTORY...

THIS STORM IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 55 MPH. SEEK
SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THE STORM HAS PASSED.

LAT...LON 4180 11265 4105 11210 4096 11249 4148 11306
TIME...MOT...LOC 0047Z 223DEG 28KT 4148 11290 4110 11248

MERRILL

Special weather statement, Aug 22, 8:28 PM MST, 1 hour 22 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
928 PM MDT THU AUG 22 2013

UTZ001>016-019>021-517-518-WYZ021-231230-
CACHE VALLEY/UTAH PORTION-NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
SALT LAKE AND TOOELE VALLEYS-SOUTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS-WASATCH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
WESTERN UINTA BASIN-CASTLE COUNTRY-SAN RAFAEL SWELL-
SANPETE/SEVIER VALLEYS-WEST CENTRAL UTAH-SOUTHWEST UTAH-
UTAHS DIXIE AND ZION NATIONAL PARK-SOUTH CENTRAL UTAH-
GLEN CANYON RECREATION AREA/LAKE POWELL-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST WYOMING-
928 PM MDT THU AUG 22 2013

...COOLER AND WETTER WEATHER COMING TO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UTAH...

A LARGE WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
PORTIONS OF THE STATE SUNDAY INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK BRINGING THE
POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD RAIN TO THE AREA. IN ADDITION TO THE
RAIN...SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED WITH
TEMPERATURES FALLING 10 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW FRIDAYS READINGS BY
SUNDAY.

DEPENDING ON HOW THIS SYSTEM EVOLVES...THERE MAY BE THE POTENTIAL
FOR LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING WITH THE RAINFALL SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.
ANYONE LIVING IN OR TRAVELING TO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN UTAH DURING
THIS PERIOD SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR FUTURE FORECASTS OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

ROGOWSKI

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM NOAA/S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SALTLAKECITY (ALL LOWER CASE)

FOR INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL TRAVEL IMPACTS VISIT...
HTTP://WWW.UDOTTRAFFIC.UTAH.GOV/ROADWEATHERFORECAST.ASPX

The radar

The Salt Lake City radar (KMTX), 109 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flash flood, 3 debris flow, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Debris Flow, Utah

When: August 22, 9:50 PM MST to 11:50 PM MST
Where: Utah County, 3.73 mi E of Alpine to 3.34 mi NNE of Alpine
Cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 40.459, -111.700

Heavy rain over the Quail Fire burn scar near Alpine resulted in a debris flow and flash flooding. Mud flowed across several streets in Alpine, including Grove Drive, Box Elder Drive, and Moyle Drive. One home was flooded, with mud and water 18 inches deep flowing into the basement. One shopping center in the area also experienced some flooding as the water and mud flowed through town. Mud and debris took multiple days to clean up on many roads and lawns.

Associated with the same thunderstorm, flash flooding occurred along the Dry Creek Trail near American Fork Canyon, stranding two hikers for a couple hours before they could be rescued.

Debris Flow, Emery

When: August 23, 1:00 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where: Emery County, 7.6 mi W of Huntington to 2.69 mi WNW of Mohrland
Cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.341, -111.112

A debris flow occurred off of the Seeley Fire burn scar, covering State Route 31 with mud, and producing significant rises on Huntington Creek.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tooele

When: August 24, 2:10 PM MST
Where: Tooele County, 10.24 mi NE of Gold Hill
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 40.280, -113.700

The West Salt Flat sensor in the Dugway Proving Ground mesonet recorded a maximum wind gust of 64 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tooele

When: August 24, 3:25 PM MST
Where: Tooele County, 14.78 mi NNE of Knolls
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 40.910, -113.150

The Diddle Knoll sensor in the Dugway Proving Ground mesonet recorded a maximum wind gust of 64 mph.

Debris Flow, Sanpete

When: August 24, 4:00 PM MST to 5:00 PM MST
Where: Sanpete County, 4.67 mi ENE of Fountain Green to 4.75 mi NNE of Juerusalem
Cause: Heavy Rain / Burn Area
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 39.653, -111.548

Heavy rain over the Wood Hollow Fire burn scar resulted in a debris flow, with mud crossing over State Route 132 between Fountain Green and Moroni.

Flash Flood, Washington

When: August 24, 4:00 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where: Washington County, 7.26 mi E of New Harmony to 5.56 mi ESE of New Harmony
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 37.460, -113.190

Significant flash flooding was reported across much of the western side of Zion National Park, including in the Subway area, in Kolob Terrace, and along Taylor Creek in the Kolob area.

Hail, Davis

When: August 24, 4:19 PM MST to 4:21 PM MST
Where: Davis County, 0.52 mi E of Laytona to 0.52 mi E of Kaysville
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.080, -111.960

Multiple members of the public reported nickel to quarter sized hail falling over Layton and Kaysville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Davis

When: August 24, 4:21 PM MST
Where: Davis County, 0.52 mi E of Laytona
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 41.080, -111.960

Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees on Fairfield Road in Layton.

Flash Flood, Kane

When: August 24, 8:30 PM MST to 9:30 PM MST
Where: Kane County, 1.61 mi ENE of Glen Canyon to 10.38 mi ENE of Glen Canyon
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.090, -111.644

Flash flooding was reported along Wahweap Creek.

Flash Flood, Washington

When: August 25, 4:17 PM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where: Washington County, 6.33 mi ESE of Springdale to 3.02 mi E of Zion National Park
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 37.157, -112.889

Significant and widespread flash flooding was reported across Zion National Park after more than an inch of rain fell over the park. The heavy rain filled culverts, and large rocks were washed onto the main scenic drive, resulting in the road being closed down for a period of time. Many canyons were running very high with water, and the gauge on the North Fork of the Virgin River rose to 3159 cfs.

Flash Flood, Wayne

When: August 26, 12:40 PM MST to 2:40 PM MST
Where: Wayne County, 5.46 mi WSW of Notom to 10.28 mi SSE of Caineville
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 38.190, -111.206

Small flash floods were reported in Capitol Reef National Park, but the Fremont River rose significantly when all of these washes combined into the main river as it flowed toward Caineville.

Flash Flood, Washington

When: August 26, 6:00 PM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where: Washington County, 5.74 mi W of Zion National Park to 0.96 mi E of Zion National Park
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 37.374, -113.104

Widespread flash flooding was once again reported in Zion National Park. Most notably, the East Fork of the Virgin River rose to an estimated 5489 cfs.

Flash Flood, Kane

When: August 26, 6:05 PM MST to 8:05 PM MST
Where: Kane County, 11.58 mi ESE of Glen Canyon to 7.74 mi ESE of Glen Cnyn Bsn Arpt
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 37.003, -111.484

Heavy rain over a large area resulted in the flash flooding of many drainages in far southern Utah, including the Paria River and Wahweap Creek.

What these are

Debris Flow: A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.
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.
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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Utah in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Utah, August 2013

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: 475163, 475155, 475120, 475121, 475156, 475157, 475116, 475113, 475158, 475159, 475160, 475162, 475161.