Utah flooding live updates: Flood advisory issued for Emigration Creek

The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for Emigration Creek in Salt Lake City, which will remain in effect until 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The creek is expected to crest at about 125 cubic feet per second between 9 p.m. Monday and 4 a.m. Tuesday, which is “above action stage,” according to the weather service. There is “high confidence” that the creek will reach “minor flood stage” on Monday night.

Temperatures are expected to rise into the low 70s on Monday — about 10 degrees above normal for this time of year — melting more of the record snowpack.

“Minor flood damage” is expected at homes and other structures along the stream, “including Hogle Zoo.” The zoo, which is monitoring the creek flow, will be open as usual on Monday.

Although there’s “greater uncertainty” about what will happen Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service is forecasting a second crest. Temperatures will be about 20 degrees cooler on Tuesday, with highs in the low 50s, but there’s a 70% chance of rain showers — possibly mixed with snow in some areas.

(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) The NOAA is forecasting peak flows above flood stage on Emigration Creek on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

A forecast hydrograph from the National Oceans and Atmospheric Administration predicts a peak flow of 140 CFS on Tuesday night/early Wednesday and a peak o 141 CFS on Wednesday night/early Thursday.

Emigration Creek crested at about 155 CFS last week, sending water flowing through the streets in the area near 1700 South and 1700 East last week. Flood stage is considered to be about 130 CFS.

(Salt Lake County Parks & Recreation) A sign is shown in a flooded pond at Sugar House Park on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Sugar House Park is open to vehicles

Sugar House Park, which was temporarily closed to vehicles on Saturday when the pond overflowed its banks, is open as of Monday morning.

The streets reopened on Sunday, according to Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation Department, which tweeted that it will “temporarily close” the streets again if “water rises to dangerous levels.” The county will “try keep it open, in modified ways, as safety allows.”

The park is a detention basis that is “working as intended for flood control,” according to the department, and the water level rose there “on purpose.”

from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/3VY7qdb