Officials warn of potential flash floods in burn scars and Zion National Park
Even though the Forsyth Fire continues to smolder above Pine Valley, they are already feeling the effects of the monsoon rain. A flash flood swept through part of the forest near the campground yesterday, washing debris across the road, but it was in an area that was already closed off to visitors.
The slide came just before a public meeting regarding the flooding risk.
'It's frightening when a disaster happens. You think it's not going to ever happen to you,' said Pine Valley resident Michele Stephens. 'But then it does happen to you, and the realization comes that it can happen. And you realize you need to be prepared and that you're kind of helpless to Mother Nature.'
Washington County officials say burnt ground can trigger flash floods for years. And with monsoon season underway, they're preparing for more.
'Pine Valley is one of our big concerns with the burn scar from the forest fire,' said Washington County Emergency Services Director Jason Whipple. 'And that tends to be a problematic area because of the runoff that comes down there and the debris that comes with it.'
While Pine Valley remains a serious flash flood concern, the other area officials are watching closely is Zion National Park, especially with so many visitors in the slot canyons.
'These canyons are connected, and they're all part of a greater watershed system,' says Daniel Fagergren, Chief Park Ranger for Zion National Park. 'So if it rains in one small corner of the park, it's likely going to impact other areas in the park.'
With monsoon season running through September, officials say now is the time to prepare, especially when visiting or living in an area with flood risk.
'Survey your property, look at some things that can be improved there,' Whipple adds. 'Things that might be low-lying, that might need sandbags like your home. And then watch the weather. Listen to any watches and warnings that come out.'
From Zion to Pine Valley, the threat of flash floods is real, and even small storms can quickly become big problems. Officials say to stay weather aware, even if the skies look clear, and to be sure to sign up for emergency alerts.
Joseph DeGolyer contributed to this report.
Latest headlines:
Republicans eye efforts to quiet Epstein uproar but can't quash it
Utah spends the 3rd lowest amount of income on childcare in nation: Wallethub
Utah's air tanker bases have already used 1.2 million gallons of retardant fighting wildfires
One dead after Orem house fire Friday morning
Officials warn of potential flash floods in burn scars and Zion National Park
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Five rescued from floods in New Mexico, less than month after storms killed three in same area
Heavy rain and flash floods caused five water rescues and multiple evacuations in southeastern New Mexico, less than a month after flooding in the same area killed three people. On Thursday afternoon, the Rio Ruidoso in Lincoln County rose over 12 feet, prompting five water rescues of stranded motorists and at least 14 evacuations, local officials told KOAT and The New York Times. There were no reports of deaths or injuries, the officials said, and flood waters began receding around 2pm local time. 'Move to higher ground immediately!' Lincoln County officials wrote in a Facebook post early Thursday afternoon. 'Do not delay gathering belongings or try to protect your home.' The flooding caused road closures, and residents shared videos of muddy flood waters inundating roads and ripping apart a riverside mobile home. The rains impacted a burn scar left by recent wildfires, sending loose earth into the river near the village of Ruidoso. The area near Ruidoso remains under a flood advisory from the National Weather Service. Flooding along the river earlier this month killed three people and damaged at least 35 homes. Summer rains have also impacted other parts of New Mexico. On Tuesday, severe flooding in Doña Ana County caused at least 15 emergency transports to an evacuation shelter, while search and rescue teams saved 20 people and their pets. The natural disasters come amid doubts about the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which the Trump administration has threatened to shutter entirely, moving disaster response to the states. Despite the threats, the administration announced this week four states that've been hit by disasters will get federal funding: Indiana, which experienced deadly tornadoes in March; Michigan, which experienced ice storms in March; Kentucky, which experienced flooding and tornadoes in April and May; and West Virginia, which experienced flooding and tornadoes in June. The administration plans to defer to local leaders, while still providing federal fundings, according to the White House. No official action has been taken to phase out FEMA, a White House official recently told The Independent. The climate crisis is making floods more deadly across the U.S.
CBS News
4 hours ago
- CBS News
From Burst to Break in Colorado's Summer Monsoon
There are two faces to The North American Monsoon. What is know as a burst and a break. For the past three days, monsoon flow into Colorado has been in what is known as a "burst" phase. Creating a stretch of wet, stormy, soggy and typically cooler weather. Coming up for the weekend, the Rockies will transition into the "break" phase of the Monsoon. This is a period where rainfall is significantly reduces or cut-off completely. With less moisture and cloud cover, the "break" characteristically is a lot warmer as well. This will be the case for Colorado starting this weekend into the first half of next week. Where, for example, Denver will see about 5 days in the 90s from Friday through Tuesday. With upper 90s on Monday and Tuesday! Another surge in the monsoon is expected by the middle of next week.
Chicago Tribune
5 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Afternoon thunderstorms knock out power to more than 50K customers
Afternoon thunderstorms moving through the area gave a brief reprieve from the extreme heat that had plagued the city since last week but triggered more than a thousand power outages affecting nearly 50,000 customers. As of 5:09 p.m., Comed had 1,055 reported outages, affecting 51,210 Cook County. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning Thursday afternoon, warning of strong wind gusts. Severe Thunderstorm Warning continues for Chicago IL, Cicero IL and Oak Lawn IL until 3:30 PM CDT. This storm will contain wind gusts to 70 MPH! — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) July 24, 2025According to Tom Dominguez, a spokesperson for ComEd, a spike in outages came as a result of the strong winds. 'We already have recovery efforts underway,' Dominguez said Thursday afternoon. ComEd dispatched repair teams to power sites and will prioritize critical infrastructure, such as hospitals, police and fire stations and water management facilities. Afterwards, it will begin working on the affected sites that supply power to the most people. Dominguez did not have an estimate of how long the repairs would take. Dominguez also advised Chicagoans to be wary of downed power lines and recommended that anyone who sees a fallen line should call ComEd. 'Always assume that they're still energized, do not get near them or touch them,' he said. Thursday's sudden and heavy rainfall was short-lived, with showers clearing by 4 p.m. The National Weather Service was not expecting more rain Thursday afternoon, though there could be some lighter showers after sunset, into Friday morning, according to meteorologist Lee Carlaw. A cold front followed the storms, and Friday was expected to be cooler. 'The conditions will be notably more comfortable tomorrow than today,' Carlaw said. The severe heat, however, will return Sunday and last into Monday, possibly surpassing 100 degrees.
