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Flood warnings and flood watches remain in effect throughout most of Utah on Tuesday, although there is an end in sight to the immediate danger.
After temperatures reached the 80s on Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Salt Lake City — with highs of about 80 forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday — temperatures will tumble, according to the National Weather Service. The Salt Lake City area can expect highs in the low 70s on Thursday and the low to mid-60s Friday through Wednesday.
That drop in temperatures should slow the melting of Utah’s record winter snowpack, which is currently fueling flood risk. Normal temperatures for this time of year are in the mid- to upper 60s.
In the meantime, flooding issues continue to plague the Beehive State:
Woman swept away in Weber County
In Weber County on Tuesday, rescue crews continued to search for a woman who was carried away by the rushing Weber River near Uintah on Monday evening. According to Weber Fire District officials, a woman was heard screaming and witnesses saw her caught up in the fast-flowing waters.
The woman is believed to be in her 20s. As of late Monday, the ongoing search along the river was considered a recovery mission.
Salt Lake City eyes Emigration Creek
In Salt Lake City, officials are keeping an eye on Emigration Creek, which is expected to exceed flood stage late Tuesday and Wednesday.
The flood-control system has the capacity to handle peak flows, which are forecast at more than 160 cubic feet per second. But officials said teams will be on guard, watching to ensure no blockages in culverts or storm drains cause any issues. In mid-April — when a clog in the system sent water spilling down the roadway near Wasatch Hollow Park — flows on the creek peaked at 155 cfs.
If flooding occurs, officials expect it to be minor and limited to roadways.
To report issues or concerns about the condition of Emigration Creek, call the Salt Lake City Public Utilities Department’s 24-hour dispatch line at 801-483-6700.
Sugar House Park closed to cars for at least 2 weeks
Sugar House Park will be closed to vehicles through at least May 14. The park is designed as a detention basin, and the area around the park’s pond remains flooded by controlled releases from Mountain Dell and Little Dell reservoirs.
There was also flooding Tuesday in Parleys Nature Preserve and Hidden Hollow, both of which are also designed as detention basins.
Road closures
Big and Little Cottonwood canyon roads were closed again Tuesday because of elevated avalanche risk. State Road 190 within Big Cottonwood Canyon was expected to reopen around 3 p.m. It’s not clear when Little Cottonwood Canyon will be open to vehicles.
East of Provo, about 30 miles of U.S. Highway 89 through Spanish Fork Canyon — from the intersection of U.S. Highway 6 near Thistle to Mount Pleasant — was shut down again overnight Monday because of flooding.
By late Tuesday morning, the roadway was reopened, but it’s possible it could close again.
Officials monitor Hyrum Dam spillway
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is monitoring the spillway at Hyrum Dam — on the Little Bear River, about 9 miles southwest of Logan — around the clock as operators release “a high volume of water” to help manage Hyrum Reservoir’s water level as warm temperatures “have significantly increased snowmelt and runoff into the reservoir.”
”The spillway has served us well for 90 years,” said the bureau’s regional director, Wayne Pullan, “but because of its age and because it lacks the features of a modern spillway — and out of an abundance of caution — Reclamation has worked quickly to stage heavy equipment and riprap material near the spillway, in case we need to take immediate action.”
The dam was constructed in 1935 and provides storage for irrigation and municipal use.
Garden City flood warning remains in effect
A flood warning remains in effect in the Garden City area of Rich County until 3 p.m. Thursday for snowmelt affecting rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying areas.
Garden City’s mayor on Monday declared a state of emergency to help better prepare for flooding and flood mitigation. He encouraged all homeowners to come check their property, noting that about 80% of houses there are vacation homes or short-term rentals.
Other flood risk across Utah
Farther south, a flood warning along the lower Weber River in Plain City was canceled late Tuesday morning, after an updated forecast called for the river to remain below flood stage, which is 27 feet.
But the weather service warned that flows in the “action range” — between 25-27 feet — will continue into next week.
Near Huntsville, there’s a “moderate” risk of flooding through Thursday along the south fork of the Ogden River. The river is expected to peak at about 5.3 feet/1,500 cfs on Friday morning, above the flood stage of 4.6 feet/992 cfs. Flows will decrease into the weekend.
In southern Utah, near the town of Hatch in Garfield County, there’s a flood warning in effect for the Sevier River. The river is expected to “oscillate” around flood level — 3.9 feet — through Friday morning. Water levels are expected to drop over the weekend.
— This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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